THE dawn of a new year always brings with it a renewed sense of hope and optimism. Such optimism, in the context of our rapidly evolving economic and social life, is not without justification.
Never before in our history, has there been such a tidal wave of transformative changes which potentially could catapult Guyana from a state of dependency and underdevelopment to one of sustainable prosperity.

Guyana is now a major player on the regional and international stage. It is the first country in the world to benefit from carbon credits, thanks to the hard and painstaking work by both President Dr. Mohamed Irfaan Ali and Vice-president Dr. Bharrat Jagdeo. Guyana is now ranked among the fastest growing economy in the world, a quantum leap from the shameful ‘pariah state’ status under the previous PNC regime.

As pointed out by President Ali, getting the country to the state it is now has not been easy. The country experienced some distressing periods under the previous PNC administration which rigged its way to power for close to three decades. It was indeed an uphill task for the PPP/C to position the country on a path to prosperity and for literally snatching democracy from the clutches of the APNU+AFC in the March 2020 General and Regional elections.

Prior to 1992, the country was under dictatorial rule by the Burnham regime and following Burnham’s death in August 1985, a similar trend of dictatorial rule continued under Desmond Hoyte until democracy was finally restored to the country on October 5, 1992.

As the President said in his recent address, the importance of good governance cannot be overemphasised and ways will have to be explored to further deepen our democracy. An examination of the country’s developmental profile would reveal that it was only under democratic governance that significant economic and social gains were made. In other words, there is a positive correlation between democracy and development as our own experience in Guyana has demonstrated.

As we look back to 2022, we have good reasons to be thankful. The country has been making steady progress in all facets of national life. Thousands of Guyanese benefitted from employment opportunities generated by the oil sector and the continuing part-time jobs across all the regions of Guyana. This has impacted positively on disposable income especially for those in rural areas where job opportunities are not readily available.

Our people are living longer and healthier lives and our children are doing better at school. The government’s home-ownership program has now become a success story, thanks to the distribution of thousands of house lots coupled with easier access to bank loans. The crime situation is under control and according to police reports, the incidence of crimes have decreased significantly compared to previous years.

These are all indicators of an enhanced quality of life for which the PPP/C administration must be commended. There is a restoration of hope of a better and more secure future for all Guyanese.

Regrettably, while Guyanese can now bask in the glory of a better life, the same cannot be said for a significant segment of the world’s population many of whom are forced to endure a life of fear and insecurity. The war in Ukraine is still raging and millions are forced into a life of refugees, having been uprooted from the comfort of their homes and families. The income gap is getting wider and more and more people are pushed at the margins of the world economy.

The tragedy of it all is the fact that such sufferings are man-made and such a catastrophe and misery can be resolved through enlightened thinking by those in the corridors of power.
At the international level, the year ended on a somber note with the passing of two international icons, Queen Elizabeth of Britain and, more recently the passing of retired Pope Benedict XV1.
It is, however, the continuing war in Ukraine that continue to take the international spotlight. The war has had a crippling effect on the lives of the Ukrainian people. It has also resulted in rising energy costs and in the price of food items.

Fortunately, for us in Guyana, the full impact of the energy crisis and its impact on rising food prices have been cushioned by the fiscal and monetary policies of the PPP/C government. This is especially so for the more vulnerable segments of the population. Subsides in water and electricity and increased pensions have contributed significantly in providing a better standard of living for our senior citizens.

Guyanese have high expectations of the coming period ahead. Resolutions will be made, even though it is always advisable to temper expectations with current realities.
A bright future beckons!