PRESIDENT David Granger has spoken and written on the subject of various aspects of national development on numerous occasions. An analysis of those pronouncements reveals that His Excellency has a holistic vision of his administration’s developmental goals, as well as a comprehensive roadmap towards those goals.

In fact, the overarching goal has been clearly articulated: a good life for all Guyanese. This approach to national development is welcome and refreshing, as we have not had the benefit of such a logically consistent methodology before now.

Unlike under the previous regime when the word “development” was shouted whenever a government crony or known drug trafficker erected a new building in Georgetown, the current administration defines development in terms of improvement of the quality of life of citizens. Such development is tangible and quantifiable; and Guyana’s developmental agenda is tailored to local realities, while being premised on the internationally accepted Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) set by the United Nations (UN) General Assembly in 2015.

The SDGs are a list of 17 global goals declared in UN Resolution 70/1 titled, ‘Transforming our World: the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.’ It should be noted here that the UN defines sustainable development as, “Meeting the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.”

The 17 goals are: no poverty; zero hunger; good health and well-being for people; quality education; gender equality; clean water and sanitation; affordable and clean energy; decent work and economic growth; industry, innovation and infrastructure; reducing inequalities; sustainable cities and communities; responsible consumption and production; climate action; life below water; life on land; peace, justice and strong institutions; and partnership for the goals.

Each of those broad goals is broken down into sub-headings, with target dates and clearly defined criteria for measuring to what extent the goal has been achieved.

Guyana’s developmental agenda is set within the construct of those 17 goals, which Guyana intends to fully realise. The local agenda, though, takes into consideration our particular geography, population-makeup, natural resources, government structure, and national objectives; these include our intention to become a “green” state with an inclusionary democratic mode of governance.

President Granger has articulated the administration’s objective of a good life for all Guyanese. Within that particular construct, which coincides with the SDGs, he has listed a 10-point plan for hinterland development; plans for improved employment opportunities; access to healthcare; access to education; housing; sustainable environmental practices ; clean-energy initiatives; democratic governance, ownership of regions; elimination of extreme poverty; infrastructural development; closing the gap between conditions in the hinterland and those on the coast, among others.

The APNU+AFC administration, therefore, has a stated vision and a roadmap to its achievement that is custom-made to fit Guyana’s needs. This is what makes the government’s approach to development an admirable one.

Another example of government moving towards development goals while taking local realities into account, is the idea of Plans of Action for Regional Development (PARDs). President David Granger at the swearing-in ceremony of regional chairpersons following the 2015 general and regional elections charged them to create PARDs. Those plans would take into account the resources and other unique features of each region, with the objective of regional development; moreover, those plans would be created by the elected regional councils. Those facts are consistent with the requirements of Guyana’s constitution.

Specifically, Article 77 which states, “The development programme of each region shall be integrated into the national development plans and the government shall allocate funds to each region to enable it to implement its development programme.” And, Article 13 which mandates that, “The principal objective of the political system of the State is to establish an inclusionary democracy by providing increasing opportunities for the participation of citizens and their organisations in the management and decision-making processes of the State, with particular emphasis on those areas of decision-making that directly affect their well-being.”

One may reasonably conclude, therefore, that Guyana’s developmental objectives are in good hands. No longer are plans made in a haphazard manner, or with corrupt motives, as was the case under the previous regime. Today, there are efficient systems in place to comprehensively implement realistic initiatives with the sole objective of creating a good life for all Guyanese.