WITH inclusion as its watchword, the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) Government has been implementing strategies and policies that promote and support the development of each Guyanese, regardless of their ethnicity, religion, creed, political persuasion or any other personal features or preferences.

The intention of the Dr. Irfaan Ali-led administration, as observed over the past two years, has been to address the immediate and long-term needs of every citizen through the development of an inclusive system and agenda, all under the banner of “One-Guyana.”

Unlike the former A Partnership for National Unity + Alliance For Change (APNU+AFC) administration’s abortive attempt to foster social cohesion in the local society, the PPP/C’s efforts have extended beyond rhetoric and are evidenced by its investment in initiatives such as the education cash grant, the GOAL scholarship programme and the creation of part-time jobs, among many other things that target the entire Guyanese population, and not just one section of society.

It is clear that the government’s actions are aligned with the United Nation’s definition of social inclusion, which is: “The process by which efforts are made to ensure equal opportunities – that everyone, regardless of their background, can achieve their full potential in life. Such efforts include policies and actions that promote equal access to (public) services as well as enable citizens’ participation in the decision-making processes that affect their lives.

In fact, President Ali has said that the overarching goal of the “One-Guyana” initiative is to make society more equal, ensure that everyone has a chance to live fulfilling lives, and lessen disparities in access to justice, employment, health care and education.

“One-Guyana vision, in this regard, aims to ensure that every citizen is accorded a dignified existence and with due respect for their rights and with equality before the law,” the Head of State had said.

The development unfolding before our eyes and the government’s plans are evidently far different from the image that some sections of society are trying to paint and the misinformation they are propagating, as part of their efforts to destabilise the country and cultivate divisiveness among Guyanese.

Those divisive attempts were noted by political analyst, Freddie Kissoon, who said that based on his analysis, it is not the public policies and initiatives that are causing instability in Guyana’s society, but rather there are anti-government “forces” in civil society who are looking to derail progress.

“The people who stayed silent on the no-confidence [motion- 2018] and attempted rigging of elections [2020] have been harassing an elected government,” Kissoon said during the first stream of the Gildarie-Kissoon programme on the Guyanese Critic’s Facebook page.

The analyst, who has been critical of the PPP/C on several occasions, acknowledged that the government is working within the confines of a democratically elected administration.

In so doing, the government has so far restored the Because We Care cash grant and increased it to $25,000; increased the uniform voucher and old-age pension; disbursed billions of dollars in the form of various grants to cushion the economic conditions influenced by COVID-19 and other factors, and removed VAT on water, electricity and data, among other things.

Further, through its Guyana Online Academy of Learning (GOAL), some 6,000 Guyanese, in 2021, undertook distance learning in 187 programmes offered through eight universities. And, this year, over 9,000 persons have applied to be part of the programme that is open to all Guyanese.

There is also a three-month course that, once completed, would afford persons entry into either a tertiary-level programme or a specialised technical programme.

Should those and other initiatives not address the direct needs of citizens, the government has gone the extra mile to conduct outreaches in various communities and meet Guyanese directly in order ascertain what issues exist and how they could be addressed effectively. The government has so far visited every region and engaged persons in communities such as Buxton and Linden that are known strongholds of the APNU+AFC.

President Ali has repeatedly said that the approach of his administration to decision-making is one of stakeholder engagement, which could pave the way for the realisation of the One-Guyana vision.

“Together, we are going to embark on the journey of prosperity with all of you; the achievement of peace and prosperity; this is a golden opportunity to attain that objective. We will succeed and make proud all those whose struggles were important in achieving our independence.

“The future belongs to us. The naysayers wish to break our stride, but the evidence is overwhelmingly clear that Guyana is surely… on a fast track to peace and prosperity. Let us keep it that way under the umbrella of One-Guyana,” President Ali had said during his address to the nation on Independence Day.

Guyana’s approach to development has been acknowledged by many of its diplomatic partners, with the latest being the United States of America.

During a visit to the US at the invitation of the North American nation’s government, President Ali and Vice President, Dr. Bharrat Jagdeo, along with a high-level team, met with senior officials, including US Deputy Secretary of Commerce, Don Graves and US Secretary of State, Antony Blinken, to discuss a range of issues.

The President also had a telephone discussion with Vice President of the US, Kamala Harris, who, according to a release from the White House, said that she is looking forward to continuing her collaboration with President Ali in promoting inclusive democracy, economic development, and security for all Guyanese, and underscored the Biden-Harris Administration’s commitment to strengthening U.S. partnerships with the Caribbean.