THE People’s Progressive Party  (PPP) has congratulated President Donald Ramotar and his government on their first year in office since being sworn in on December 3rd,  2011. “The accomplishments of President Ramotar and his team have been many and wide ranging and are even more significant when contrasted with the challenging political atmosphere created by the opposition alliance of the AFC and APNU,” the PPP said in a statement issued last evening.

A hallmark of Mr. Ramotar’s  Presidency has been his determination to advance the continued economic growth and development of Guyana for all citizens, the party posited.
Key to this, it said,  has been the acceleration of projects which are the pillars for the next stage of Guyana’s advancement, such as the expansion of the Cheddi Jagan International airport and the Amaila Falls Hydro project.

“His vision to prepare Guyana for a brighter future and to ensure that we are organised to maximise benefits from new and emerging sectors such as oil and gas along with traditional ones such as mining saw the creation of the Ministry of Natural Resources and the Environment,” the PPP stated.

Over the past 12 months, President Ramotar has underlined the fact that he is the people’s President by reaching out to each and every group with a view to addressing their concerns.

At the political level, the PPP said he has signalled his interest in building consensus to advance the nation’s business and established a tri-partite committee of political leaders. He has underlined his commitment and continued willingness to engage these leaders despite challenges as highlighted by efforts to stagnate government’s business in the National Assembly.

“During his tenure at the helm of our nation, government’s partnership with the private sector has been further strengthened with the business community and organisations playing a more visible role in articulating their position on national issues and in advancing their agenda to improve the nation’s business climate,” the PPP stated.
 Additionally, it said the private sector benefited from a reduction in the corporate tax during his first year in office.

Over this period, President Ramotar has also underlined that one of his key focuses is the working class by increasing the tax threshold for workers, increasing the minimum wage for several categories of workers, increasing benefits to pensioners and ensuring that sugar workers and public servants benefited from wages and salaries increases for this year.

“On the International front, apart from being recognised by the United Nations, His Excellency has also worked tirelessly to bring attention to his nation and our developmental needs as was underlined by his recent participation in the UNASUR Summit in Peru, where he called for more emphasis on equality for all our people,” the party noted.
 
The People’s Progressive Party said it “recognises these and all other initiatives too numerous to mention by President Donald Ramotar and is confident that, under his leadership, Guyana’s future is secure”.
 

PULL QUOTE:
‘Over the past 12 months, President Ramotar has underlined the fact that he is the people’s President by reaching out to each and every group with a view to addressing their concerns.’  –  PPP