THE theme and objective of ‘A Good Life for All’ has been associated with the Coalition under the leadership of Brigadier David Granger, ever since that former head of the Guyana Defence Force, author, historian, President and statesman entered Guyana’s political arena.

That noble goal, President Granger believes, is the reason for the existence of his administration. The president has emphasised that fact on numerous occasions. Certainly, every right-thinking person would most definitely agree with such a self-evident philosophy.

The president has said that the quality of life of a person is “a measure of that citizen’s satisfaction with their life.” His Excellency elaborated that that measure of satisfaction is determined by numerous factors and experiences. Those factors include a person’s state of health, levels of independence, community participation, personal development, physical and material wellbeing, recreation activities, interpersonal relationships, and availability of social support.

An examination of that list of factors immediately reveals that a person’s satisfaction boils down to two components: The quality of service that government provides, and, basically, a citizen’s financial security. Since President Granger has committed his administration to providing the highest quality of government services, and he is obviously delivering on that commitment, a person’s satisfaction with life, at the basic level, simply depends on how financially secure that person feels. In even more simple terms: Does one have sufficient money to spend?

Following that line of reasoning to its logical conclusion, a good life depends on having a secure, well-paying job, or, if one cannot work, having access to enough financial resources to enjoy a satisfactory, decent, dignified and happy life. In other words, having sufficient money to be comfortable. That is what the good life is all about.

The fact that President Granger continues to deliver on his promise of a good life is evident. His Excellency’s focus on educating young people in order for them to be able to obtain good jobs is a major part of that approach.

The administration’s attention to the building of more schools, the upgrading or establishment of information technology ‘labs’, the improvement of vocational training, the establishment of a modern curriculum, and similar initiatives, are intended to equip persons, particularly Guyana’s youth, with the skills necessary to get good jobs so as to have good lives.

The establishment of a Ministry of Business by the David Granger government was primarily intended to facilitate and stimulate entrepreneurship and direct investments, again, creating more, better-paying jobs.

In 2015, before the APNU+AFC Coalition was elected, the Old Age Pension was a meager $13,000; today, under the Granger government, it is well over $20,000. This translates into more money in the pockets of our senior citizens, as, they, too, should have good lives.

President Granger, much to his credit, has demonstrated that he always formulates policies, and enacts initiatives within a comprehensive philosophical framework, unlike the previous People’s Progressive Party (PPP)’s ad hoc, confused way of doing things. The president has clearly stated that the realisation of a good life rests on seven pillars.

Those pillars are: Public trust in government, an administration that works in the public interest, the pursuit of a ‘green’ path to development, investment in infrastructure, enhanced public security, better government services, and, finally, leadership that works in the public good.

President Granger’s comprehensive approach to enacting programmes that benefit all citizens, regardless of where they live, is what government is there for. While the administration continues to provide opportunities for all Guyanese to enjoy a good life, it is up to us to take maximum advantage of those opportunities. It is also up to citizens to ensure that those opportunities are not taken away from us.