October 1992 indeed heralded the dawn of a new era for Guyana and the Guyanese nation, because it was on October 5, 1992 that the forces of good prevailed over the destructive elements that had driven Guyana’s socio-economic dynamics down to subterranean levels, to depths from which not even the PNC thought this nation could have surfaced, much less survive the decades of deprivation, oppression, depression and destruction so all-pervasive and soul-searing that if ever a nation could have been described as being battered to near-oblivion by its leaders it was the Guyanese people, who had become a pariah, not only regionally, but in international enclaves, to the extent that we were no longer trusted by International Financial Institutions.But the great, good father of the Guyanese nation prevailed and rose like a veritable Phoenix to place this nation once more back on track. He recognised his mortality and knew that there would come a time when he would no longer be physically present to chart his developmental visions to culmination; so he engineered a Poverty Reduction Strategy and a National Development Strategy, wherein all his visions that he had held dear for the peace, progress and prosperity of the Guyanese people formed a nucleus of ideas that found expression in successive PPP/C manifestos and budgetary allocations as funds were released through debt reduction and/or write-offs, and prudent fiscal management over the years to the extent that when even developed nations were experiencing socio-economic retrogression, with people losing home and jobs by the millions worldwide, Guyana was achieving steady growth indices for successive years, with stable macro-economic fundamentals; food security and a plethora of other macro achievements in the various sectors, so much so that Prime Minister of St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Ralph Gonsalves described Guyana as the only shining star of the Caribbean; and plaudits are coming from international financial institutions for the PPP/C Government’s astute and prudent stewardship of the nation’s economy.

The only fault-finders of the nation’s developmental programmes are the collective Opposition cabal – the political parties, political entities masquerading as NGOs and media practitioners, et al, but the vision of Dr. Cheddi Jagan prevails and is brought to fruition in a multiplicity of ways every day in the nation as the party he had left to carry on his work and concretize his dreams work relentlessly to optimise and accelerate development in the nation, always with the human face so that every man, woman and child is assured a bright present and an even brighter future.

And Finance Minister Dr. Ashni Singh’s 2014 national budget is veritable proof that the legacy of growth with a human face that Dr. Jagan envisioned, crafted and charted still prevails under successive administrative constructs of the PPP/C.
The People’s Progressive Party-Civic Government (PPP/C) has provided excellent stewardship in Guyana over the last twenty-one years of the party being the first democratically elected government since independence. Since 1992 things have become so much better that most of the people take the existing benefits and improved services for granted.
Under the PPP-Civic Administration, Guyana’s economy performed exceptionally well, given the multiplicity of local and international constraints over the 21 years of PPP/C stewardship, generating positive GDP in most years. Guyana today has substantial foreign reserves, single digit inflation, booming economic indicators, a thriving construction industry and sector; bumper rice harvests; increasing exports of agricultural produce along with timber and mining products. A new wave of prosperity has gripped the hinterland, largely where gold mining is concerned.

A sustained battle at home and overseas to rescue the sugar industry against formidable odds is being won, with inexorable efforts, despite gloom and doom prognostications, along with budget cuts by the opposition naysayers. Massive gains are being made in the fish and manufacturing sectors. The commercial banking sector is thriving and expanding and is solvent in every way.

There is no economic crisis in Guyana under the PPP-Civic Government and the country has largely escaped the economic down turn that is still gripping most of the world, caused by recession in the USA, Western Europe and Japan. Through brilliant leadership and the instrumentality and vision of the PPP/C Government, Guyana has been spared the ravages of foreign recession.

One of Dr. Jagan’s primary initiatives has been dubbed the fulcrum of PPP/C achievements – and that is the ordinary people are better housed, as well as the fact that they are better clothed, better fed, better educated; are provided with better medical and health services; are better paid where wages and salaries are concerned. The transport system is rising to the challenges posed by increasing numbers of people acquiring vehicles of their own, with which to commute daily. Our highways are being overhauled and expanded to 4-lane status.

In addition, sustained efforts are being made to overcome flooding caused by seasonal rainfall and the inadequacy of drainage systems taking into consideration, huge swaths of land under cultivation, animal husbandry, housing schemes and industrial estates. It is confidently expected that the Hope Canal now under construction, will help to put an end to this flooding problem in the agriculturally strategic East Coast Demerara area.

Social harmony and tolerance in Guyana have been nurtured and being encouraged in all spheres of life. All Guyanese, even the Amerindian communities that had been completely neglected by the previous administration, are an integral part of the PPP/C’s development agenda and share equally in the nation’s prosperity.

The rights of and opportunities for Guyanese women have been expanded and is celebrated here and abroad as a model. The protection of our children and the enhanced welfare of our elderly and other vulnerable groups are today among the proud achievements of the current administration. Indeed, the PPP/C Government has created a more caring and compassionate society.

Under the leadership of President Donald Ramotar, the PPP-Civic Government has entered into a challenging parliamentary dispensation, whereby an Opposition configuration is intent on creating retrogression in the phenomenal growth pattern so ably charted by his predecessor, and it is to his credit, and the credit of his Cabinet that economic growth is sustained, with continued acceleration of social developmental patterns.

While recognising that there is more to be done for the country, Guyana today has never been so advanced and well-positioned as one of the regions’ shining example of good governance and lasting opportunities for the Guyanese people.

Dr. Ashni Singh’s 2014 Budget is a rededication by the PPP/C Government to hold true to the ideals and sustain the legacy of its founding father through charting the nation’s development.