Guyanese citizens and voters alike have had 31 months to assess the difference between the current and the last governments, and by all measures the conclusion is always like differing between chalk and cheese, or walking and talking.

All sectors of the population have, one way or another, felt Guyana’s new wealth, not necessarily in their pockets but as citizens — from Amerindians benefitting from carbon credits to Medium to Small and Micro Enterprises (MSMEs) getting special procurement considerations, to Agro-Guyanese businesses benefitting from Affirmative Action, to nationals protected by the Local Content Law.

Guyanese have also seen and heard the world saying positive things about our country, most glad about our new fortunes and wishing us well after decades of being recklessly driven downhill — without brakes — while the usual professional naysayers continue pelting pebbles and babbling aloft and on high, from their shattered glass Towers of Babel.

Public opinion, however measured, indicates, however, they can no longer mask their words or actions before an informed and mature electorate that’s long learned how to distinguish between doers and doubters, real progress and glorified backwardness.

Fortunately, Guyana today has a government that operates on the basis of actual inclusion instead of the exclusivity practiced by the current Opposition in office, twice since 1992.

News from the government’s information services these days is about hundreds of projects and thousands of beneficiaries from the millions and billions of dollars being allocated from flowing oil revenues, while the administration works to ensure no less investment and returns for Guyana from gas, starting with reduction of electricity bills through the gas-to-power route, but already being declared a failure by preachers of doom and gloom, before even one megawatt of electricity is produced.

But this administration is led by leaders who’ve long understood the importance of delivering on promises and solving people’s problems while critics continue attempting to create impossible mountains out of ant hills and stirring-up hurricanes in teacups.

The nation is led by a President who daily solves age-old problems for communities, a widely-experienced Vice President who is General Secretary of the ruling People’s Progressive Party-Civic alliance, a civic-minded Prime Minister steeled by decades of dedicated military discipline and a Cabinet of professionals, technocrats and accountable politicians who don’t see themselves as, or behave like, they were born to rule.

The PPP/C is heading for a Local Government Election (LGE) with all signals pointing to its victory hands-down, especially if judged by its record of achievements halfway through its first term, even if those electing to boycott were to participate.

Gone are the days when those playing champions of democracy today would cynically force Guyanese voters to choose between a “House” and a “Mouse” as election symbols, or when ballot boxes with LGE votes were hijacked by GDF troops.

Today – and in June – Guyanese can and will cast their ballots confident that each vote will be counted and included — and not excluded on the basis of who cast them, or where.

Democracy is back and while it’s not working for those who’ve historically subverted it for personal and partisan political gain, Guyanese voters will on Election Day be more concerned about ensuring continuity than the illusion of halting progress and backing the advancing nation into reverse gear.

However, there’s no escaping that voters don’t vote to change governments, but rather, to elect — and re-elect. And having last elected the PPP/C and seen attempts to have their votes so brazenly stolen, Guyanese aren’t about to repose their trust into mouths that usually bite hard the hands that feed them!