THERE was a continuous furore by the opposition cabal and media houses over the presence of former President, Dr. Bharrat Jagdeo, at the Office of the President recently.
President Donald Ramotar campaigned on the premise and the promise of a continuity in the developmental dynamics engineered by the indisputable architect of modern Guyana, Dr. Bharrat Jagdeo, who left the country poised for catalyzation of a development trajectory that would most likely have elevated this country into becoming a developed country that has attained all the Millennium Development Goals(MDGs) within the immediate future, except that the opposition’s vindictive and vicious budgetary massacre has seriously compromised the attainment of those goals.
Dr. Jagdeo could not relinquish his care and concern for the country and its people when he relinquished the administrative office, so he refused all offers of lucrative and prestigious appointments offered him by powerful world bodies to continue to serve his country in a voluntary capacity, which his pension allows him to do.
The vicious budgetary cuts have almost immobilised President Ramotar, and certainly inhibit his office from functioning at its fullest capacity; especially in view of the inescapable fact that the Office of the President can no longer afford to hire consultants and advisors on critical areas of development. So the invaluable input of Dr. Jagdeo into the national development paradigm can only redound to the nation’s good.
The astute leadership of the PPP/C Government, and prudent management of the nation’s fiscal affairs have created many buffers to cushion the devastating impacts of external trading, and social dynamics from derailing the development programmes; and even growth patterns of this country’s socio-economic developmental indices.
Many nations are reeling from the shockwaves of the global recession, but Guyana’s food security is assured, and our economy has been stable, with even some degree of sustained growth.
Despite the dire prognostications of doomsayers and naysayers in the opposition collective, the government’s continuously increasing investments in the agricultural and other sectors and the innovative initiatives by its ancillary arms are redounding in a major way towards the enhancement of the lifestyles of citizens.
As the government strategises to create and accelerate the dynamics of development through the continued investments in people power, like his predecessor presidents in successive PPP/C administrations, most recent being former President Dr Jagdeo, President Ramotar is also seeking a partnership with the citizens of the land to join government’s efforts to involve the citizens of the country to be an integral part of the development paradigm of the nation.
“Uniting communities across the Country” – the theme of the Community Development Council at its annual conference, which was held to celebrate its 10th anniversary, is evocative of the PPP/C Government’s drive to incorporate government’s drive and people’s power in national development imperatives.
The continuous release of millions to the City Council, as well as government’s developmental interventions and monetary allocations for CDCs across the country are a commitment to the people of the land by the leader of the land to the enhancement of their existential landscape, the success of which co-operative endeavours at the grassroots level are an imperative.
But working with the grassroots has always been the PPP’s tradition, and service to the people has always been the paramount consideration in all the endeavours of the PPP, beginning from the first foray into the socio-political arena by the iconic Jagans, who chose well when they chose the young Bharrat Jagdeo to take up the mantle of leadership in the country. He did not falter in his responsibilities and his stewardship during his tenure as guardian of this nation’s welfare, even during the most testing period of the opposition’s continuous “slo’ fiah, mo’ fiah”; which is testimony to his commitment to the Jagan legacy of service to the nation above concern for self.
The CDCs were formed by government to involve members of communities in the care and development of their own communities, while simultaneously creating and providing jobs for the unemployed. The Councils allow communities to be responsible for the governance of their designated areas of mandated authority.
If properly managed, with primary goals of self-development and autonomy of environmental, infrastructural and social management, in addition to consideration for sound fiscal practices and uncompromising accountability, each community of the nation can maximise and exploit its peculiar potential to optimal levels. This could provide the impetus and serve as a catalyst for the restoration of commitment to personal and communal development, whereby citizens could enhance their lives and lifestyles through individual and collective efforts, and thus restore the healthy socio-economic environment of communities across the land; which will, of course, redound to the benefit of the entire nation.

Benefits will include a reduced crime rate; unwed pregnancy rate; school dropout rate; suicide rate; abuse rate; and stress-related medical rate; among many others.
At the gala flag-raising ceremony to usher in Guyana’s 43rd Independence Anniversary, then President Jagdeo had urged older citizens to try to inculcate into future generations the patriotism needed to ensure that Guyana remains a truly free state.
Dr. Jagdeo told the audience on that occasion that government’s priority remains the preservation and advancement of the welfare gains attained over the years.
He said that the government will continue to make investments aimed at enhancing the quality of life of our citizens, especially the vulnerable.
Adumbrating the difficulties, challenges and pitfalls that the country has faced over recent years, Dr. Jagdeo also reiterated that catastrophic international occurrences did not derail Guyana’s momentum of growth, but that the triumphs are defined in the actualisation of government’s developmental programmes.
He said: “We have come a long way since Independence because of the efforts of our people, but much more progress can be made if we have a supportive political environment. Our people’s desire for a better life imposes upon us the obligation to pursue greater national unity and co-operation.”
However, this has always proven to be an elusive dream of the PPP leaders, so while they urge and encourage other political leaders toward more cooperative endeavours to better the lives of the Guyanese people, it is also incumbent upon the peoples of Guyana to recognise that their leaders often fail them, and it is to the benefit of everyone if citizens acknowledge that unity and cooperation with government’s development strategies at the grassroots level, despite diverse political affiliations, can fructify in personal, communal, and national development, where everyone wins.
It is not by accident that all the Municipalities managed by the PNC continually fail: Linden, Georgetown, New Amsterdam are cases in point. They are microcosms of Guyana under PNC rule of earlier years.