Gov’t committed to development with a human face – President
– Over 3,500 students benefit in first day of cash grant distribution

OVER $35M was handed over to parents and guardians of more than 3,500 public school students yesterday during the launch of Government “Because We Care” $10,000 cash grant initiative.

President Donald Ramotar stressed that the current administration’s investment in the Guyanese people, via social sector initiatives, is the manifestation of a long-standing principle of the ruling People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) – development with a human face.
“In the final analysis, the most important factor of development is the people of our country…education underpins everything,” he told hundreds of Region 7 (Cuyuni/ Mazaruni) residents at the Bartica Community Ground.
According to him, the current administration continues to act on the principle of development with a human face as a way to ensure equal opportunity for all Guyanese children.

“In the final analysis, the most important factor of development is the people of our country…education underpins everything.” – President Donald Ramotar

He pointed to the fact that a 17-year-old student, Malala Yousafzai, was one of the 2014 Nobel Peace prize winners and explained that this is an indication of the contribution young people make to the country and the world as a whole.

The Head of State noted too that the “Because We Care” initiative” will not only assist parents in financing their children’s education, but will also further improve access to education for all Guyanese children.
Mr. Ramotar added that Guyana has already attained the goal of universal primary education and is well positioned to achieve universal secondary education soon.

INVESTMENT IN THE FUTURE

“We must invest in our children to put then on a level field,” he said, adding that in this way Guyanese students have a greater chance at competing on the global scene.
The President was emphatic in stressing that education is an investment in Guyana’s future, since it represents the foundation on which progress is advanced.
“We are working to ensure that no one is disadvantaged,” he stressed.
In addition to the “Because We Care” initiative, Mr. Ramotar highlighted that many of the social sector programmes interconnect and complement each other, such as the Government’s widely lauded One Laptop Per Family (OLPF) programme and the ongoing Information Communication and Technology (ICT) thrust.
In the education sector, the Head of State said this is seen with the investment into new schools and rehabilitation of schools, the provision of text books, the hot meals programme, the uniform assistance programme and other measures that aim to support Guyanese children – all of which go towards improving the standard of living and quality of life for all Guyanese.
Mr. Ramotar stressed too that the interior regions are not left out of the development, evidence of which is clear.

“If we speak about developing the interior, we have to have to invest in the people of the interior,” he said, reiterating that the ongoing development thrust has been geared toward equal opportunities for all Guyanese.
As an example of this, the President pointed to the efforts to have the University of Guyana’s (UG) degree programme made available online, so all Guyanese youth can benefit from a university education.
He stated that this again is evidence of coordinated development, since the push for online access to UG is complemented by the Government’s OLPF programme.
“This Government is about providing opportunities for our people he said.

CONSISTENT INVESTMENTS
Mr. Ramotar highlighted that the investment in the social sector and by extension, the Guyanese people has been a consistent and conscientious decision undertaking by successive PPP/C governments.
The President stated that prior to 1992 the investment in the social sector was a measly eight per cent of a small national budget, as compared to the 2014 and prior budgets.
This year, the national budget allocated over 30 per cent of a whopping $220M budget. The national Estimates were geared to fulfill the many promises made to the people of Guyana during the 2011 campaign.
However, it was slashed by the Opposition. This year the cuts totalled a whopping $37.4B, reducing the $220B national Budget to $182.6B. Last year, the combined Opposition cut the Budget by $31B; and in 2012 by $21B.
The cuts include: 95M for the provision of developmental and humanitarian aid, among other initiatives; $450M for loans for University of Guyana students; $725M for the poverty alleviation programme; $7M for the different rights commissions; and $795M for the Basic Needs Trust Fund. Also on the chopping block were: the Specialty Hospital – $910M; upgrading of Regional and District Hospitals, including Port Kaituma, Kwakwani, Linden, Bartica, Eye Surgery Operating Room at Linden etc. – $360M; ambulances, ATVs and Boats – $42M; surgical equipment and instruments – $32M; the Amerindian Development Fund – $1.1B; other Amerindian programmes, such as ATVs, tractors etc. – $40M; the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA) modernisation project – $6.6B; Civil Aviation – $50M; and hinterland airstrips – $185M.
The 2014 Budget saw no new taxes, old age pensions increased from $12,500 to $13,600 – up from $3,500 in 2006 and old age pensioners receiving an annual electricity assistance of $30,000, an increase from $20,000, among other measures – commonly referred to as safety net initiatives to support society’s vulnerable groups.
The largest percentage of the 2014 Budget went to the education sector with an allocation of a whopping $32.3B, while Health received an allocation of $21.5B. Under vulnerable groups and other targeted interventions, $382.5M was allocated to consolidate efforts made in the delivery of childcare and protection services.

COLLECTIVE EFFORT
Despite the successes and challenges, the President stressed that Guyana has the potential to go a much further way, in terms of its development. “We have the ability to go far,” he said.
However, he made clear that the business of developing Guyana is one that cannot be done by the Government alone, but must be a collective effort, premised on partnerships and support among both the current Administration and the Guyanese people. “We can do much. We need your support to do so…we need your support as we explore ways to develop” Mr. Ramotar said.
To this end, he pointed to areas of development that will keep Guyana on its development trajectory, including the need for a new international airport, a deep water harbour and additional infrastructure.
Public Service Minister, Dr. Jennifer Westford, was also present at yesterday’s launch, and echoed similar sentiments.
She stated that Guyana is a country of many firsts and this is something that all Guyanese must be proud of.
However, according to her, for this to continue, Guyanese must all work together to continue the pace of development, for the benefit of the entire nation.
Westford made it clear that the current Administration, a Government for the people, efforts in the past and its vision for the future does not entail development that will benefit one group of Guyanese, but development for all of Guyana, regardless of race or political affiliations.

SMOOTH FIRST DAY
The first day of distributions rolled off smoothly, with the hundreds of parents and guardians being served between 11:00hrs and 14:00hrs.
Some 16 schools from Region 7 were involved in the distribution process.
In line with the decisions taken after more than 55 public consultations, as soon as parents and guardians uplifted their vouchers they were able to en-cash them at open Western Union/Bill Express locations in Bartica. The vouchers can also be cashed at Banks, Mobile Money and MoneyGram locations, as well as at post offices.
According to Education Minister, Ms. Priya Manickchand, the first day is a reflection of the intent of the programme, service to the Guyanese people. “This is a simple programme. It is a programme where we serve you,” she said.
During the launch, Ms. Manickchand stated that across the Caribbean Region only five countries have similar programmes, but Guyana stands tall in that it is the only country where such a programme is free from conditionalities.
“We believe firmly that we must invest in our children and in their education. If we fail, then we fail them and we fail Guyana,” she said.
Manickchand added that there has been a build-up of support programmes and initiatives in the education sector to ensure continued development. “We match investments to our commitments,” she assured.
However, the Education Minster pointed out that the success of the investments made to date is seen in the education outcomes that improve each year, at the level of the Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) exams and at Caribbean Advanced Proficiency Examination (CAPE) exams, among other platforms.
“We know there is still more to do,” she acknowledged.
Manickchand added: “We must all work together,” she said, adding that this is the only way to consolidate the gains that have been made over the last two decades and build on them to advance.
The roll out of Government’s ‘Because We Care’ $10,000 Cash grant initiative continues today in Leguan, Region 3 (Essequibo Islands/ West Demerara) and will continue across the country until November 21.

(By Vanessa Narine)