ONE of the hallmarks of a good and effective leader is his or her ability to honour promises made.  President Dr Mohamed Irfaan Ali has not been found wanting in that regard. In fact, he has even gone beyond a number of the promises he made when he was elected President on August 2020. The salary increases paid out to public servants and the raft of measures taken to enhance the quality of life of the Guyanese people are just but a few of the actions taken by the President since assuming office, which has left no doubt as to his ability to deliver and, even more importantly, that he can be trusted to deliver on his commitments to the Guyanese people.

The most recent example of standing up to his word was the decision to restore the one-month Christmas bonus to ranks of the Disciplined Services. It would be recalled that the bonuses which were paid by the previous PPP/C administration were abruptly halted by the APNU+AFC administration immediately after it took power in May 2015. President Ali, even prior to becoming President, promised to reinstate the Christmas bonus to the ranks. The bonuses are tax-free, which is in addition to the seven per cent retroactive increases on salary to members of the Disciplined Services. Unlike last year when a two-week bonus was paid because of the time factor and budgetary limitations, the full one-month bonus is now being paid. This is indeed a welcome and deserving gesture to members of our disciplined forces, who have been doing a good job in ensuring the preservation of law and order in our society and in the safeguarding of our territorial integrity.

There are some who felt that similar bonuses should be given to other sections of the Public Service. And while all services are important, the President has made it clear that there are some categories of professionals who are considered ‘frontline’ workers and who put their lives and that of their families at risk in the cause of the safety and protection of the Guyanese people, and for that matter the nation as a whole. Among these are our nurses who were also the beneficiaries of a two-week bonus announced by President Ali and now our men and women in the disciplined services.

The President was very clear on payment of the Christmas bonuses to the ranks and justified it (if at all any justification is necessary), in the following way: ‘This year we’re returning the full month, tax-free bonus to you. And let me be very clear on this, because I want to be clear to all those who are listening — we are not returning the one-month tax-free bonus for any other reason, but you deserve … those who believe they can take things away from the soldier, I challenge them to go spend a year in some locations and live the life you do in protection of your country and then they will know whether you deserve it.’

According to President Ali, despite the fact that substantial investments have been made in terms of capacity building and institutional strengthening in the army, police, prison and fire service, it is the investment in human capital that he found particularly satisfying. It is in that context that he took the opportunity to announce that 19 ranks will receive scholarships from the Guyana Government.

The capacity to deliver on promises is not confined to the payment of salary increases and bonuses, but has become entrenched in the overall delivery of goods and services to the population as a whole. Almost on a daily basis something new is happening in the country to improve the quality of life of the Guyanese people. These found expression in the several hundreds of house lots given out to deserving cases, improved health and education services; a better and more reliable supply of water and electricity; better roads and access dams and by no means least, job creation, all of which were manifesto promises made by the PPP/C and which are now being fulfilled by the President Ali administration.

President Ali and his PPP/C administration are deserving of full credit for living up to the trust and confidence the people of Guyana has placed in them. The challenges are many, due in no small way to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, but the President and his administration have demonstrated that with the political will, it has what it takes to overcome.