– maintains that political democracy is crucial to success
OCTOBER 5, 1992 has been called the people’s triumph, when the late Dr. Cheddi Jagan took his place as the democratically elected President of Guyana. And yesterday, People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C) Presidential Candidate Mr. Donald Ramotar made it clear that political democracy is crucial to a country’s success.
Hundreds turned out to the Mahaica Mahaicony Abary-Agricultural Development Authority (MMA/ADA) Open Day, one of the activities planned to mark Agriculture Month 2011 held at Bath market tarmac, West Coast Berbice, where the Head of State Bharrat Jagdeo was also present.
Ramotar, in his address, drew a parallel between the present and October 5, 1992, and pointed out that, in 1992, Guyana was poised to fight to turn the tide for the nation’s progress.
Once more, 19 years later, he noted that Guyana is poised for a new wave of social development and economic prosperity.

According to Ramotar, political democracy ensures that the government remains accountable to the society.
“In rigged elections, they were not accountable…there was a huge separation between the government and the people,” he said.
The PPP/C Presidential Candidate made it clear that the current administration has worked together with the people; and with the return of democracy, has brought on change and success.
He stressed that the PPP/C rebuilt infrastructure, rescued people, rebuilt Guyana’s social infrastructure, built and rehabilitated some 1000 schools, supported the delivery of quality health care in each region, and addressed the housing and water needs of thousands, among other successes.
Ramotar stated that the current administration’s policies and programmes, in particular the One Laptop Per Family Programme (OLPF), are in sync with Dr. Jagan’s vision for equal opportunity for all Guyanese.

He added that political democracy supports the success of the sectors that are economic earners, namely the Agriculture sector – the absence of which saw the decline of not only the agriculture sector, but others prior to 1992.
He stressed that agriculture is indispensable to Guyana’s development, a “growth pillar”, according to him.
Ramotar said from 1992 to date, the current administration has invested heavily in the sector, an investment that has yielded much.
He proffered the view that the advance of the sector using science and technology is the way forward and noted that the foundation is being set for such an advance.
According to him, Guyana is pursuing universal secondary education – a move that will make the advance of the sector through science and technology a reality.
Ramotar stated that the stage is set for the sector to move forward and pointed to the opportunities with the changes in the supply and demand dynamic on the global food markets.

He maintained that Guyana can once more become the bread basket of the Caribbean.
Guyana has the capacity for horizontal expansion, the capacity to take up more lands, as well as fresh water and other resources to expand production.
“We can use this opportunity, use our resources and move to the next stage,” he said.
Ramotar observed that the PPP/C started with the right vision, and will continue to advance the agriculture sector – all in the interest of national development.