GUYANA has moved up the UNDP Human Development Index by an additional two points and is now ranked as a medium human development country. This is a significant leap considering that Guyana was ranked a low-development country under the former PNC administration almost on par with Haiti which is still ranked among the poorest nations in the world.
According to the latest UNDP Human Development Index, Guyana is now ranked 117 of 187 countries which in effect means that Guyana is ahead of a sizeable number of developing countries in terms of human development as defined by the UNDP. Among the indicators of human development is life expectancy which moved up by ten years since 1992 to 70 years, per capita income which moved from just around $US300 in 1992 to $US3,192, a 10- fold increase in less than two decades. Other indicators include average years of schooling and expected years of schooling, both of which Guyana has scored well above the average performance.
This is quite an extraordinary achievement, especially when seen against the background of a bankrupt economy and  rundown social and physical infrastructure which the PPP/C inherited in 1992. The PPP/C administration must be commended for having lifted this country out of the depths of hopelessness and despair and placing the country on a trajectory of sustained growth and human development.
Yet, there are elements in our society who seek to downplay these achievements out of narrow partisan interests, especially at this time when Guyanese are about to go to the polls to determine which party will take this country along this path of sustainable development. The vast majority of Guyanese will vote for consolidation and continuity of our social and economic gains which as past experience has demonstrated can only be assured with a PPP/C victory.