THE ongoing debate in the National Assembly on the 2025 Bugdet presentation has created some interesting dynamics. As to be expected, there are arguments from the political opposition that are at best disingenuous and in several instances hypocritical and completely at odds with objective realities.

It takes a fair amount of courage to stare development in the face and pretend that they do not exist because of blind political loyalty. And yet this is exactly what is playing out in the National Assembly by the political opposition as they seek to score cheap political points.

Truth, it must be said, comes more naturally than lies, half-truths and distortions. This is what essentially differentiates those from the government benches and those who occupy the opposition benches. It is obvious that opposition parliamentarians are forced, as it were, to stifle their consciences by trying to create a facade of indifference to the enormous economic and social gains made by the PPP/C which the 2025 budgetary estimates seek to build on and further expand.

This is why those from the political opposition who have the courage and decency to recognise progress when they see it must be applauded. Moreover, it speaks to political maturity and fairness to give credit when it is due, regardless of how it may come across to the constituency to which he or she may belong.

The fact of the matter is that the policies and programmes of the PPP/C are touching the lives of all Guyanese in positive ways in all constituencies, in sharp contrast to what obtained under the previous APNU+AFC administration.

The Granger administration which campaigned on a promise to provide ‘the good life’ for the Guyanese people turned out to be nothing but a mirage. Whatever ‘good life’ took place was limited only to the top echelons of the regime. Ordinary people saw their incomes plummet by way of new and increased taxes, withdrawal of subsidies on basic consumer items and the imposition of value-added taxes on a wide range of goods and services, including water and electricity.

This is why attacks on the budget presentation by the political opposition sounded hollow in the face of failed policies and inept management by the previous administration. Guyanese are witnessing a new wave of development and progress under the PPP/C administration and are not shy to acknowledge this new dispensation.

This new reality has resulted in a ‘gravitational’ pull which has now found expression in several former members and supporters breaking ranks with the PNC and the AFC and openly identifying themselves with the vision and developmental goals of President, Dr Mohamed Irfaan Ali and the PPP/C administration.

But as pointed out by Vice-President and PPP General Secretary Dr Bharrat Jagdeo, there is a place in the PPP for all Guyanese regardless of race or politics and who identify themselves with the developmental goals and aspirations of the party and government.

The PNC no doubt sensing the changing political dynamics and the gravitational pull of the PPP/C is trying desperately to broaden its electoral base for the upcoming elections by way of rekindling alliances with other political parties, especially the Alliance For Change (AFC). The talks with the AFC, from all indications, are not going well and are on ‘life support,’ according to AFC Leader Nigel Hughes.

The PPP/C on the other hand, is growing in strength and popularity which no doubt is indicative of an acknowledgement from the Guyanese masses of the enormous strides made by the current administration.