IN recent weeks, the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) has been attacked by the Opposition for its poverty reduction efforts in Guyana. Not only are these charges unfounded, but they also reveal a distinct disconnect from reality.

Dr. Bharrat Jagdeo, Vice-President of Guyana and PPP General Secretary, has rightly noted that budgets of the current government have all always been centered on poverty alleviation through multidimensional interventions.

Poverty alleviation by the PPP/C is based on several pillars, including free tertiary education, health for all, housing for all at affordable prices, and diversification of the economy.
These initiatives have brought enormous positive transformation to the lives of Guyanese. For instance, the government’s initiative of making university education free has opened doors for thousands of young individuals who could not otherwise have afforded tertiary education.

Investments in the healthcare sector have also expanded access to quality healthcare services, including universal health vouchers and specialised programmes like cervical cancer screening.
Furthermore, the government’s economic policies have induced job creation, with over 60,000 jobs created since 2020; a far cry from the job losses experienced during the coalition government’s term in office.

The Opposition’s criticism of initiatives like the $100,000 cash grant to newborns loses the big picture of poverty reduction programmes, which include increased pensions, education grants, and conditional cash transfers.

The Opposition’s track record in office from 2015 to 2020 was one of underinvestment in critical sectors such as education and healthcare, which heightened poverty and unemployment. The PPP/C has demonstrated a clear commitment to the betterment of the lives of all Guyanese through pragmatic policies and actions.

It is time now for the Opposition to move from rhetoric and present concrete, viable options. As Guyana moves ahead, the PPP/C’s record of poverty alleviation and economic development continues to be a model of good governance.

The Opposition would do well to take notice of these achievements, and become a part of constructive discourse rather than issuing unsubstantiated criticisms.