MINISTER of Public Affairs within the Office of the Prime Minister, Kwame McCoy, says the people are the focus of the PPP/C Government’s programmes and policies and it has ably demonstrated that since taking office in August. While the Government has embarked on large-scale projects to transform and modernise Guyana, the minister said it has also been addressing challenges at the community level, which have affected people for years.  “We will never take all the confidence the people placed in us; we will never misuse it. We will never treat people in a way that suggest we have no care and concern for their wellbeing,” Minister McCoy said, during an interview with US-based broadcaster, Farook Juman on Wednesday.
The minister said what distinguishes the PPP/C from the Coalition is its response to the people’s needs. Now, even in Opposition, the Coalition has done nothing constructive, he said. Their very action or inaction has suggested that they have no interest in the people of Guyana.

“We have a duty as a party in Government, to make sure that we never falter along those lines…. We stick to our promises. We deliver to people. We are there with them in thick and thin. We understand people’s issues, and the most important thing is that we are always doing for the people,” Minister McCoy said.
Under the previous administration, only a small group of people benefitted. On the other hand, the PPP/C Government presented an emergency budget in 2020 that helped all Guyanese, after just a few months. The minister referred to the Government’s $25,000 per household COVID-19 relief cash grant, the $15,000 per student school grant and a range of provisions such as the removal of value-added tax (VAT) on water and electricity, the removal of corporate tax on private education and private healthcare, the removal of VAT on all exports and the reversal of land lease fees.

Minister McCoy also noted that the Government implemented a coordinated approach to combat the COVID-19 pandemic. This was evident with the massive increase in testing and the acquisition of more polymerase chain reaction (PCR) machines to conduct the test.
The minister also highlighted the Government’s inclusive approach to development. In preparing for the 2021 budget, President Dr. Mohamed Irfaan Ali consulted the small political parties. The only party absent was the APNU+AFC Coalition, which rejected the invitation, the minister said.

Minister Mc Coy added that the PPP/C Government’s inclusionary leadership style goes beyond political parties.
“We believe strongly that you cannot build a country with the absence of these things. Otherwise, we will end up speaking to ourselves if we do not include and involve people. We are working for people; we are working to develop people, it is them we have to communicate with to have their ideas and their input,” the minister said.
Since taking office, President Ali has held three massive outreaches in Region Two, Six and 10. Additionally, Government ministers have embarked on outreaches countrywide for continuous engagement at the community level. (DPI)