GUYANA must be the envy of the developing world, for its multi-billion-dollar housing programme that has, since 1992, under the PPP/C government, ensured that tens of thousands of Guyanese are now proud home owners.

One only has to recall the squalid scenario of indiscriminate squatting that dotted the country’s  coastalways, to understand the desperation of mostly the nation’s low income earners, to have a roof over their heads, so to speak.
Two decades later, regularized housing schemes, with critical infrastructure, on which beautifully designed  homes now stand, is testimony to a visionary programme that has brought great satisfaction, joy, pride, and “a feeling of security and contentment”.
The latter point especially was emphasised by  President Donald Ramotar, at  a recent One Stop Shop, held at the National Stadium at Providence. An objective analysis, when undertaken, will reveal that  all of the social programmes that the PPP/C have implemented so far – their core content centres on  building the capacity of the  individual Guyanese citizen, be it improving the quality of  education taught in the nation’s schools; improving the nation’s health delivery system for a healthier human, and making available to the nation, the many programmes via the Human Services Ministry.
The President is absolutely correct when he said that: “If we want to end poverty, we have to invest in our people first and foremost.”  And he must be commended for the continuation of this vital aspect of national development. It is a truism that is often missing in the development plans of many a State. Therefore, Guyana is indeed very fortunate to have an administration that understands the critical link between people and poverty and what has to be done to remedy such a hindrance.
The President and his government must be commended for the continuation of the national transformation programme, that puts the development of people, “first and foremost.”