DURING the late 70s and early 80s here in Guyana, many public roads were, by and large, deserted. Vehicles were few in numbers, and in some villages they could have been counted on one hand. The roads, in some areas, were playing grounds mostly for football and cricket. It was a given that the makeshift equipment, like the goalpost or “wicket”, would be moved whenever a vehicle approached. Given the infrequency, that was not necessarily a deterrent.

Those images were symptomatic of the challenges the country faced at the time; economic, social and political, as major ones. Economically, the country was almost stagnated, and, for many, there was little room for personal advancement through the acquisition of wealth or assets. The preoccupation was for survival, and the roads offered an alternative outlet from the unusable playfields.

Fast forward decades after to the present, the roads are now inadequate to meet the growing volume of vehicles. The images now are of daily, lengthy heavy traffic congestions that unavoidably precipitate frustration. On some roadways, when the traffic is flowing, there is the challenge of being able to cross. The inherent danger looms with frequent fatal accidents. Roads once used for sporting activities are no longer within the realms of contemplation for such today, and sensibly so.

These current images speak to many things, and, none the least, the massive and unprecedented transformation of the country that the People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C) government initiated after coming to office in 1992 . For that transformation to be realised, the enabling environments for personal advancement had to be created and be easily accessible. This is evident from the many Guyanese who have been able to acquire their own homes and other assets, including vehicles.

All across the country, the physical landscape has rapidly changed, and there is no sign of letting up, even at a time when there is some level of global economic contraction, partly driven by the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. The country has become unrecognisable for those who left during the oppressive time, pre-1992, and would have returned subsequently. Those who resided here, throughout, and witnessed the transformation are still in awe of what transpired between 1992 and 2015.

During that period, there was unprecedented and sustained economic growth, and Guyana was described as the shining light of the Caribbean, with many of its policies, including the robust housing drive, lauded. However, there was economic slowdown between 2015 and 2020, but not necessarily as a result of global challenges.

A cursory analysis of that period would reveal that the economic downturn resulted from inept management and a lack of vision, along with what seemed unbridled self-interest by the previous administration. That period was fraught with the implementation of poor decisions, and burdensome economic policies that imposed hardships on the citizenry, and, inevitably, stymied progress at the individual and national levels.

Following the change in government in 2020, at this point it is difficult to keep abreast of the many interventions and developmental initiatives that continue to positively impact residents across the country. These are on all fronts of development, from social, physical infrastructure, security, stimulus etc. exposing a stark contrast to what transpired under the previous government. That, in itself, speaks volumes to the difference in management and priorities with regard to the welfare of citizens.

The images today speak to the return of progress, confidence, freedom in thinking, and bigger dreams, knowing that realising them is no longer unattainable. They also speak of a country about to unlock its vast potential; one that has been placed at the cusp of transformative development, and one that is prudently managed to bring about a brighter future for all.

One aspect that is not obscured is the ongoing traffic congestions as roads have become insufficient. That would soon change, given the rapid and ongoing construction of new networks to bring relief and open up other parts of the country. With relentless development, and personal advancement, who knows, those new networks could be deemed inadequate at some point. The images would tell.