IN September 2019, before the current election campaign started, President David Granger announced his vision for a Decade of Development. That announcement, appropriately, was made during Indigenous Heritage Month.

The President said that we must invest intelligently in four transformative areas. (1) The Education Nation, (2) The Green State, (3) The Petroleum State, and (4) The Digital State. The confidence and excitement among Guyanese and non-nationals alike are more intense, now that the president has unveiled Guyana’s Decade of Development (2020-2030) programme.

Elaborating on the programme, the President emphasised his commitment to ensuring that by 2031 Guyana achieves the highest rate of education and skills development in the English-speaking Caribbean, that is, Guyana will become an “Education Nation.” The President has said that, “Education is the great equaliser. It will unlock opportunities [for job creation] for all, and help to provide the skills for development.”

With regard to the creation of a Green State, our people must demonstrate a commitment to preserving and protecting our environment. This includes more responsible use of our national resources. For example, improving value-added production rather than depending on raw materials, among other practices. Responsible and prudent management of our petroleum resources are also key transformative practices, which will result in increased investment in education, skills training, more business opportunities across Guyana and the inter-generational transfer of wealth, so our children, their children and so on can have higher-paying jobs.

Guyana’s transition to a Digital State is also one of the pillars of the President’s programme. This aspect includes adding to the 175 ICT hubs already created by the Granger administration and otherwise expanding and improving internet connectivity. The major result will be greater, cheaper access to online services, regardless of where one lives.

This is an exciting time to live and work in Guyana whether you are a citizen, resident or non-national. Under the leadership of President Granger, noticeable improvements have been made in each area of life. For example, both the UK and USA have listed Guyana as a top destination to visit in 2020.  In March of 2019, Guyana won the Best Eco-tourism Destination Award at the Berlin Tourism Trade Fair.

The confidence displayed by the international community would never have happened under the PPP regime. Under that government, Guyanese suffered in a society of State-sponsored violence, disregard for the rule of law, and neglect of hinterland and other sections of society.

When the people elected President David Granger, it was a message to the then PPP Government, as well as for the victorious Coalition Government. It was a message that we want and deserve a better, safer, more equitably prosperous and united Guyana. As Guyana moves towards elections, citizens should think very carefully about our choices. On the one hand, we can choose to go backwards to the dark age of extra-judicial killings, disregard for laws, State-sponsored division, cronyism, and the neglect of many communities, or we can choose to move forward together. Under the visionary leadership of President David Granger, many innovative initiatives and programmes have been conceived and introduced, including the idea of the Decade of Development. Guyanese should resolve to continue along the path of national progress, together.