–PPP General Secretary tells Guyanese; laments PNC/APNU’s empty commitments, short-sighted policies

GENERAL Secretary of the People’s Progressive Party (PPP/C), Bharrat Jagdeo, has said that the party remains committed to a strategic and inclusive approach to utilising oil revenues for the long-term development of all Guyanese.

Jagdeo emphasised the party’s position during his speech at Babu Jaan, Port Mourant, East Berbice-Corentyne, last Sunday, when he joined hundreds of persons to pay tribute to the founding leader of the PPP, Dr Cheddi Jagan.

He used the opportunity to reiterate that the PPP/C’s vision is centred on long-term development and prudent management of resources, compared to the People’s National Congress Reform-led A Partnership for National Unity Coalition (PNC/R-APNU)’s approach.

“At the heart of our approach is a commitment to maximising the benefits of oil revenues for all Guyanese,” Jagdeo said, adding that the PPP continues to “prioritise investments in education, healthcare, infrastructure, and housing, laying the groundwork for sustained development and prosperity.”

Jagdeo addressed prevalent misconceptions about the government’s financial standing, stating: “We’re not flush with oil money.”

He further elucidated: “In the budget that we just had, less than 30 per cent of that budget is financed from oil and gas resources.”

The General Secretary cautioned against succumbing to populist rhetoric, urging citizens to scrutinise policies critically.

He emphasised the need to avoid short-sighted approaches, particularly in allocating resources.

Jagdeo criticised the opposition’s promises, stating: “You have others who talk all the time every year, outdoing each other, but promises, making promises.”

Jagdeo underscored the PPP/C’s vision for prudent and strategic management of oil funds, contrasting it with what he described as the PNC/R-APNU’s lack of clarity and strategic foresight.
“While we advocate for transparent and accountable utilisation of oil money, our opponents offer little in terms of concrete plans. Their reliance on populist rhetoric and short-term solutions raises concerns about the long-term development prospects of our nation,” he said.

Central to the PPP/C’s agenda is the equitable distribution of oil revenues to benefit all Guyanese citizens.

Jagdeo pointed to the importance of investing in human capital and social infrastructure to address inequality and promote inclusive growth.

He highlighted the significance of infrastructural development, citing past successes such as the Hope Canal project.

Jagdeo recalled APNU’s opposition to the Hope Canal construction despite the infrastructure’s instrumental role in mitigating flooding in affected areas.

He stressed the importance of “thinking long term” and investing in infrastructural projects for the benefit of future generations.

“We must diversify our economy and reduce dependence on oil revenues,” Jagdeo said, explaining that “investing in sectors such as agriculture, tourism, and renewable energy will foster sustainable growth and resilience.”

In February, Parliament approved the historic $1.146 trillion budget which is aimed at delivering accelerated improvement to the lives of Guyanese and development.

It was the third budget that would benefit from financing from the proceeds of Guyana’s blossoming oil and gas sector.

The National Assembly had approved the Fiscal Enactments Bill, which balances immediate withdrawals and long-term savings from the National Resource Fund (NRF), which will support public infrastructural and social services development.

With allocations from the budget, sectoral investments are being channelled into public capital goods and infrastructure, including roads, bridges, and healthcare facilities, aimed at catalysing long-term economic growth and improving citizens’ well-being.

Against this backdrop, Jagdeo stated: “We have increased the budget from $52 billion in 2019 to $135 billion in education. That is a 116% increase.

“It’s not just wages, it is funding training opportunities, it’s better classrooms, new schools because we want to deliver a first-world type of education that shows a commitment to education.”
Highlighting the significant strides made in healthcare, Jagdeo noted: “In the health sector, the increase has grown from 30-something billion to almost $130 billion, an increase of 260%.”
On the subject of job creation, in 2017, the former APNU+AFC Coalition Government announced the closure of several sugar estates across the country, leaving thousands of persons without jobs or sources of income.

This move from APNU saw four sugar estates being closed and over 7,000 sugar workers losing their jobs.

With Guyana’s economy back on its feet and citizens being able to embrace its abundant benefits, more than 50,000 people have become employed under the Dr Irfaan Ali-led government.
Notably, the PPP/C government has continuously expressed a clear vision for a sustainable, competitive, and advanced Guyana by 2030.

The party had long outlined plans for a diverse economic profile, investments in healthcare, infrastructure, and tourism, as well as positioning Guyana as a hub for energy and logistics in the region.

“That is, in a four-year period and why? Because right now we’re building 12 new hospitals, and we are putting in place rehabilitating hospitals right across the country,” Jagdeo said.

The PPP/C leader underscored the party’s programme, stating: “We’re not only doubling old age pension in the five years that we promised, but the pensioners who may need better health care, they can go there… people who may now need a CT scan don’t have to pay for you to go to Georgetown to get it, it will be free.”

In addressing criticisms of the PPP/C’s housing programme, Jagdeo reiterated the party’s focus on home ownership, rather than renting, which was peddled by the APNU.

He said: “We want everybody to own a house in this country, in their own home,” emphasising the importance of creating wealth and ownership opportunities for all citizens.

Jagdeo said that all of the PPP/C policies point to the importance of a long-term vision for the country’s development, cautioning against short-sighted policies.

He related: “We must be careful. Everybody becomes populist. Oh, we got to get more money, more money all the time. But if we do that, now spend every cent and this is the APNU philosophy.”

Addressing criticisms from the opposition, Jagdeo said: “What’s the only thing that you can believe in a party? It’s not how people look or who runs the party. It’s not how they look, or their ethnicity etc, it is their programme. Not just how much they can promise, because everybody could promise.”

Jagdeo highlighted the PPP/C’s commitment to inclusivity, stating: “When I say we, I mean PPP, which is a party made up of Indo-Guyanese, Afro-Guyanese, Amerindians, every other race in this country.”

Regarding the opposition’s promises, Jagdeo said persons must be cautious and vigilant. He emphasised the need to judge political parties not by their promises, but by their delivery.

Jagdeo asked the crowd: “Is it a promise that you judge a party by or by its delivery of the promises?” as he moved on to criticise the approach of the opposition, stating: “But you have others who talk all the time every year, outdoing each other, but promises, making promises.”

Jagdeo, again, urged supporters to remain vigilant and conscious of the challenges facing the country, stating: “So, we must be careful. Everybody wants to become a populist.”

The General Secretary reaffirmed the PPP/C’s commitment to prioritising development and creating a better future for all Guyanese.

He called on supporters to join the party in its efforts to build a more prosperous and inclusive nation.