IN choosing a government, a major influence on the electorate is the track record of parties contesting an election, during their respective stay in government. However, in our case only two parties that are currently contesting the elections have been in government before-the People’s Progressive Party (PPP and the People’s National Congress (PNC) which is now part of the coalition A Partnership for National Unity (APNU). The United Force (TUF) had a short stint in a coalition with the PNC (1964-1968), but is not a force to be reckoned with at the current elections. The other major contender the Alliance For Change (AFC) is a relatively new comer and has never occupied the seat in government.
So what is the track record of the two parties which have been in government for long periods? The PPP has the distinction of being in government during two different political eras-pre-independence and post- independence. It also has the distinction of being the party which successfully led the struggle for Universal Adult Suffrage which was on in 1953, as well as leading the struggle for independence.
In the pre-independence period, the PPP government ruled from 1957-1964. It actually won the first election held under Universal Adult Suffrage in 1953, but the British government suspended the constitution and removed  it from office by force after only 133 days at the height of Cold War machinations.
However, between 1957-1964, this country made spectacular achievements which laid the foundation for its economic take-off. In the field of education, some of the notable achievements were the establishment of the University of Guyana and In-Service Teachers’ Training Centres, taking secondary education to the rural communities, introduction of a school feeding programme etc. It was during this period that Guyana achieved the highest literacy rate in the English-speaking Caribbean. In the field of health, rural health centres were established throughout this country providing free health care including an outreach medical programme to the remote communities.
But it was agriculture which perhaps saw the biggest boom as there were the establishment of the Black Bush Polder, Tapacuma, and the Mhaica/Mahaicony/Abary agriculture schemes which saw rice production increasing by 74% and Guyana earning the reputation of being the breadbasket of the Caribbean. Production soared in every agricultural sub-sector including fruits, vegetables, ground provisions, milk etc. With respect to the latter, production was so high that a milk pasteurisation plant had to be established at Kingston.
With respect to transport, three modern ferries were built including the Makouria,the Malali and the Torani to ply the Demerara, Essequibo and Berbice Rivers respectively, along with modern ferry stellings at Vreed-en-Hoop, Georgetown, Rosignol and New Amsterdam. Today, the three ferries are still serving our people.
The first industrial estate at Ruimveldt was established in a bid to push industrialisation and manufacturing.
It is also important to recall that these achievements were made in the midst of the fomenting of violence and terror which was perpetrated by local reactionaries in collusion with foreign agents their persistent efforts to destabilise and remove the government.
The current PPP-led government has continued in the same vein as there has been tremendous investments in agriculture, the social sector, transportation and infrastructure, electricity and water supply, housing and development of new sports facilities etc. Agricultural production is at its highest ever in our history and we are self-sufficient in food production.
On the other hand, what has been the track record of the PNC in government during its long stay from 1964-1992? Apart from a few major achievements such as the building of the Corentyne and linden Highways, the Canje and Demerara Harbour Bridges, there is little to show for its 28-year rule.
Its legacy is one of rigged elections, blackouts, black markets, shortages of all sorts,, banning of essential foodstuff, a collapsed infrastructure and transportation, education and health systems, collapse of the economy with a huge debt of US$2.2 billion, rising poverty levels and of course the scrapping of the railway system which no doubt contributed to the growth of the hitherto mentioned plights.
So President Bharrat Jagdeo was right, when he told hundreds at a public meeting in Kitty, Georgetown, on Wednesday evening that the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) cannot be challenged on the basis of its development track record.
The die is cast and the electorate will present their verdict as to who will earn the right  to govern for the next five years.