PRESIDENT Irfaan Ali has cemented his place as a politician who keeps delivering on the expectations of the populace as well as laying the necessary foundation for Guyana to fully realize its developmental and growth aspirations, even as Guyana is celebrating its 56th year of independence.

Fifty-six years ago, Guyanese men and women stood proudly as the golden arrowhead was hoisted for the first time at the National Park. It was a momentous occasion because Guyana was finally socially, politically, economically, and psychologically independent after a staggering 163 years of foreign British colonial rule.

It led to a famous embrace between the late former Prime Minister Forbes Burnham and the late Opposition Leader, Cheddi Jagan. This hug had significant value because it spoke to the dream of one Guyana becoming a reality regardless of the constant political drama, racism, division, and the disunity which pops up here and there.

Since then, Guyana underwent a metamorphosis throughout the years, from 1968 until 1992, when the first elections brought the PPP back to the helm of government with the politics of the Jagans taking centre stage.

From 1999, former President Bharrat Jagdeo led this country from poverty to riches as Guyana suddenly began to develop and grow. He was credited as a champion of the earth for his staunchly bold environment and LCDs policies and sweeping constitutional reforms, not to mention his many domestic pro-poor interventions.

By the time the Donald Ramotar-administration was elected, Guyana continued much of the same policies the People’s Progressive Party had been known for under the former Jagdeo government but not with the same drive or energy.

Not because of Ramotar’s doing or the party but because the people were growing tired of what they saw as instances of corruption, a failing parliamentary agenda and robust opposition.

The population in Guyana felt neglected, and the opposition political party used this haplessness to wreak havoc, chaos, and confusion, forcing the PPP Government to resign and call national elections.

Fast track to the victory of the Opposition party at the polls in 2015, the subsequent election of President David Granger, and the APNU+AFC cabinet.

Now, the country and people had the change they wanted, but his administration proved to handle the population with a big-stick approach.

Regrettably, the cabinet did not handle the people with care but with a repressive hand by taxing the country’s poor and stifling the middle class. It was evident that power had reached to head and was being misused as scandal after scandal broke out.

Secret deals and sweetheart negotiations formed the order of the day as President Granger was sailing passively and locked behind the gates of State House.

Finally, the straw that broke the camel’s back proved to be the attempted 2020 electoral fraud perpetrated by the professional riggers and politicians that are now before the courts.

After all the back and forth, Ali took office. He quickly proved that his zeal and incorruptible nature would see the dream of one Guyana fast tracked.

He quickly confronted the challenges of COVID-19 while rolling back more than 200 repressive taxes and changing the legislative agenda to make Guyana great again. President Ali has been bolder in his Administration’s fight to scale back corruption and make sure there is a higher level of accountability and transparency in the government.

Though it continues to be a work-in-progress, he is the first President since Jagdeo held office to be so down to earth and people-oriented. He cares for people and shares the relief to targeted groups of people, namely the farmers, children, elderly and citizens who needed the PPP Government’s assistance, flood relief, and cash grant loans to make life much easier.

Ali, only 42 years, has rolled out more strong fiscal policies and pro-poor policies than the two last presidents combined in his first two years in office. He is focused on the oil, gas, and petroleum sectors while looking at the traditional sectors such as agriculture, sugar, bauxite, housing, and construction.

As Guyana’s future looks bright with President Ali at the helm, Independence Day was the opportune time to plug the One Guyana mantra. Calling for unity and peace, he announced another major policy shift, and measures that will certainly be welcomed by all right-thinking Guyanese.

Guyana is now going through its period of oasis. And in the words of American politician, Christine Gregoire, it is up to us to live up to the legacy that was left for us and to leave a legacy that is worthy of our children and future generations.

Ali is creating a strong legacy and record that future generations would be proud of down the line.