SINCE the Peoples Progressive Party / Civic (PPP/C) assumption to government 1992 it has been compromising from then to now. In addition, the government and party have remained at the table of dialogue.

This is according to central executive member of the party and Minister of Housing and Water, Irfaan Ali. He was at the time addressing residents of Region 3 (Essequibo Islands/Wes Demerara) at an event organised by the Regional Democratic Council to mark the party’s 20th anniversary in government. The event was held recently at the Regional Democratic Office of Region 3.
Ali stated that it has long been a view by the PPP while it was out of office and even after the party came to office, that for a multi-cultural society like Guyana to be properly functional, there must be dialogue and compromise.
On the front of compromising and continued dialogue the minister pointed to the two years that the party had to surrender in the name of compromise during the rule of Ms. Janet Jagan after the democratic process that saw her being elected the president of the country was not accepted by sections of the society.
He added that the remaining three years were not without its problems since the PPP/C government had to deal with the never-ending protest actions coupled with the destruction and damage to public and private property by persons.
According to the senior party member, the PPP/C’s 20-year journey was not an easy one but nevertheless it turned out to be one of successes and achievements. In the area of challenges, the minister pointed to the natural disasters, crime waves along with the many hurdles thrown in the path of the party.
Reference was made by Ali to the many party supporters and members who had to be visiting the homes of those who suffered as a result of the disasters and crime waves in an effort to counsel their relatives and loved ones.
The party lauded its leaders for steering the party through those rough times and bringing Guyana through the PPP government to a path of development. For that the party and its members were reminded how important it was for them to understand the barriers.
Ali cautioned those gathered that there seems to be a recurring problem where those days seem to be returning and urged not to allow that period to return and be prepared to safeguard at all times the gains made in the fight to have democracy. “Stand strong and defend the democracy,” he urged.
Among the achievements Ali highlighted were reduced interest rates to meet the pocket of the ordinary persons, the reduction of the inflation rate and the mechanisms to support the acquiring of home loans.
He described those achievements, as just the tip of the iceberg which represents the transformation that the government has piloted Guyana.
Ali urged the gathering not to lose sight of the path and distance Guyana has travelled to reach to the point it is at today and as such must not be prepared to lose it.
In the area of social services, the minister said that Guyana has also seen upward trends. He pointed to the subsidising of water bills for senior citizens, old age pension increases, and financial assistance that are offered to persons of all walks of life who find themselves in difficult circumstances from time to time.
There have also been tremendous achievements in the areas of education, investments and housing and water, Ali added. He pointed to the investment climate which has seen what is being described today as rapid investment expansion.
The Berbice River Bridge, Takutu Bridge, Guyana National Stadium, the Aquatic Centre, numerous new secondary schools, the fibre optic cable project and the plan to build a deep water harbour were among the many items listed under the investment climate by the minister.
In the area of housing it was reiterated that improvements are being recorded by families and the middle class bracket of society.
Ali explained that almost 40 young people below the ages of 30 are leaving the Ministry of Housing daily with titles for house lots while almost that same amount are able to acquire loans to build their houses.
In addition to that there are several others who are busy putting systems in place to develop themselves because of the enabling environment that now exists and is available to young people.
According to information and date released by the minister at the event, between the years 2004 and 2011 the Government of Guyana through the Housing Ministry has invested more than six billion dollars in the housing sector in Region 3 while the water sector has seen an estimated 1.8 billion dollar-investment.
The democracy that Guyana is presently enjoying was not given but rather fought for and as such it must be protected the central executive member added.