THE People’s Progressive Party / Civic (PPP/C) is concerned that the act of slashing over 27 per cent of the National Budget this year, including funds for several major projects which would have factored significantly into the economic growth figures of the IMF, is purely intended to cripple the Guyanese economy, and has supported President Donald Ramotar’s stance that everything legally possible will be done by his Government to reverse these cuts.

Executive Secretary of the PPP/C, Zulfikar Mustapha, on Monday reported to members of the media that this was one of the pertinent issues dealt with when the party’s Central Committee met on Saturday last.
He said the PPP/C has noted the recent IMF projection in its Economic Outlook survey, where Guyana will this year record the third highest economic growth rate in South America of 5.5 percent and in 2014 this is slated to move up to 6 percent, second-highest behind Peru with 6.1 percent.
He says, however, that the PPP Central Committee in its discussions last Saturday noted that the IMF projection of continued economic growth must be seen in the context of the impact the AFC/APNU budget cuts would have on the nation realising these targets.
Mustapha also updated members of the media on the party’s plans for its 30th Congress to be held in August at Port Mourant, Corentyne, Berbice.
He said the plans are well underway and reminded that the Congress will be reviewing the work of the party since its last confab and put in place a new work programme for the period ahead.
Mustapha used the opportunity to remind also that the fourth cycle of the continuous registration will conclude on Saturday and as such “would like to urge persons who are in possession of their source documents and have not registered, to use the few days remaining to visit the GECOM centre in the area where they reside and to avoid waiting on the last day to get their transition done.”
He said the party at its Central Committee meeting on Saturday had recalled that a number of persons were not able to get registered because of the last minute rush, during the 3rd cycle of continuous registration.
Among the highlights of this year’s party congress would be the presentation of the Central Committee report by General Secretary, President Donald Ramotar and the election of a new Central Committee among other important matters.