STRONG supporter of the People Progressive Party Civic (PPP/C), Dr. Peter Ramsaroop stressed on the two recently coalesced parties-A Partnership For National Unity (APNU) and the Alliance For Change (AFC) lack of support to enable the nation’s growth.
“The 10th Parliament debacles by the opposition have slowed our nation’s growth,” said a bold Ramsaroop.
To support his statement, Ramsaroop in an exclusive interview with the Guyana Chronicle highlighted that the combined opposition has nonetheless jeopardized the PPP/C’s position in the regions and added that “yet these folks believe they can lead the nation for the next five years”.
He lauded that the growth over the last five years was challenged by the disapproval of the Anti-Money Laundering Bill along with three years of negative budget cuts aimed at bringing the nation to a standstill. In high spirits, Ramsaroop noted that both the macro and micro economy have been stable despite their complex involvement and lack of support to cultivate the nation’s growth.
Thereafter, he took the initiative to credit the PPP/C of holding a growth pattern and stable exchange rate while attracting foreign investors in Guyana. Moreover, he believes the pressure by the uniformed leadership of the Opposition compounded the PPP/C’s 2011 Manifesto that included major capital projects design to radically improve the nation’s infrastructure and position Guyana to take a commanding position with the broader regions of South America and the Caribbean.
These projects were: Deep Water Harbour, Airport Expansion, Light Rail System, Bridging to Suriname and lastly, Technology Expanion. He further expounded on the Opposition’s disapproval for funding while some projects were not debated.
“Common sense alone would have ruled that had these projects got underway, Guyana’s positioning lead would have been the talk of economists around the region,” stated Ramsaroop.
To drive the combined Opposition to power, Ramsaroop exemplified their disapproval has led to their only motive which is to reduce our nation’s position in the region, stifle growth and deny our citizens the right to progress and anticipating unrest.
He then pointed out that the people of Guyana should realise such failure and be determined to “weather the storm.” Ramsaroop highlighted that the small businesses are energized and have taken up the slack in the local economy. He believes that a change of Government to the same people that led the 10th Parliament would be a complete disaster.
“The nation got a glimpse of what an APNU/AFC Government would look like and that alone will cause them to lose the 2015 election,” said a bold Ramsaroop.
While emphasizing on the 2015-2010 Capital Budget for the new PPP/C Government, Ramsaroop noted that it will truly move the nation forward and areas such as Transport Economics will be realized. With the Deep Water Harbour, the completion of the road to Brazil and other components will be the foundation that will support the growth and future economic development.
“The movement of goods and people is fundamental to commerce and the economic and social lives of people…it provides greater accessibility to markets and employees and it creates the opportunity for enhanced productivity, profits and quality of life,” underscored Ramsaroop.
He further explained his statement by highlighting the focus as being “transportation economics”. From a macroeconomic sense, noted Ramsaroop, transportation activities form a portion of a nation’s total economic product and play a role in building or strengthening a national or regional economy and is an influence in the development of land and other resources. On the other hand, he stated from a microeconomic sense, transportation involves relations between firms and individual consumers.
“Guyana must continue to take this focus and continue an aggressive infrastructure improvement plan across the entire nation,” said Ramsaroop.
Ramsaroop said key elements of infrastructure improvements are all positioned to be realized in the final 5 years until 2020.   He said, even in his book Vision 2020 written in 2004, he has realized that many of the components he hoped for are being realised.
On the 2015 Election, he strongly believes that the PPP/C will win Majority as the AFC will not be able to hold their current levels and that Mark Benschop will become the third force and take votes from APNU.

Shivanie Sugrim