–high on PPP/C’s agenda for continuity of development

FROM less taxes to the continued expansion in education, health and socio-economic programmes, the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C)’s 2025-2030 manifesto has laid out the backbone of a transformational second term- one built on continued performance and not hollow promises.

On Wednesday, at the Ramada Princess Hotel on the East Bank of Demerara, the party, led by its General Secretary Dr. Bharrat Jagdeo and President Dr. Irfaan Ali held a national stakeholder consultation for several hours on its 2025-2030 manifesto.

The party’s consultation for its manifesto sends a clear hit to its challengers: What do you stand for besides slogans?
President Ali and PPP General Secretary Dr. Jagdeo are thinking beyond mere extraction and expenditure and instead, are focused on building on the country’s already diversified economy in its next term in office.

Fuelling further economic growth, further job creation, and improving the livelihoods of citizens even more are among some of the plans laid out in the summary of the PPP/C’s 2025-2030 manifesto.

The PPP/C has pledged to introduce a special financing window for women and persons with disabilities through the Development Bank.
The government has also promised to create job opportunities for persons with disabilities, expand education and home-based healthcare services.
Establishing a Development Bank to finance Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises (SMEs), opening up 100,000 acres of arable land for cultivation, constructing and upgrading farm-to-market roads and expanding the drainage and irrigation systems are some of the plans the PPP/C has in store for its next term in office.

Also, the new PPP/C government will ease the tax burden and among some of its plans, it says it will lower taxes on four-door pickups.
But it doesn’t stop there.

Additional cash grants for families and individuals will be granted in the PPP/C’s next term.
Since assuming office in 2020, the PPP/C government has taken the agricultural sector off the backburners of development and in its 2025-2030 manifesto they are promising to continue on this investment and expand the support.

Continuing direct support to farmers, whether it be through planting material, breeding stock or fertiliser has been outlined by the PPP/C along with co-investing in agro-processing hubs and making more land available to small and medium-scale miners.

However, this is not all; as the PPP/C in its next term, will maintain a favourable fiscal regime, no increases in royalties, no tributors tax, and no Value-Added Tax (VAT) on heavy machinery.
On the local content side, they will review the Local Content framework to create more opportunities for Guyanese businesses and nationals.
On the other hand, the bauxite sector that was once neglected and faced hardships under the past administration has been revitalised under this current PPP/C government and will see even further developments.

In its next term, the PPP/C will work even further with investors to revitalise the bauxite industry and create jobs.
Additionally, during the several hours of consultation, the President addressed the sport area and promised that every sport discipline will have a high-performance centre in the new PPP/C term.

Community-based businesses and jobs will also be created under new PPP/C government.
On the entertainment side, the PPP/C in the new term will give cash grants to artistes to improve their skills.
There will also soon be a law to guide importation of foreign workers amid the current labour shortage.
There will also be the continuation of land titling and demarcation along with increased support for Amerindian village development, the PPP/C has outlined, adding that more Information and Communications Technology (ICT) hubs will be introduced.

EMPOWERING THE YOUTH
Creating greater opportunities for participation by youths in government and private sector, ensuring full access to education and skills training and expanding investments in sports and recreational facilities are just some of what the PPP/C will do in its new term.
While youth empowerment has been a subject matter that has been talked up by many parties, the PPP/C’s track record has backed up its promises to the youth as the opportunities for the leaders of tomorrow have been increased.

PLANS FOR HEALTH & EDUCATION
In education, free education at all levels will continue, however, the government wants to go further, pledging to introduce a new transportation support grant for all students.
There will also be the continuation of modernising school infrastructure and facilities, strengthening school management and accountability along with the rollout of the Guyana Digital School Initiative.

The ‘Because We Care’ cash grant that was taken away from the children under the past coalition administration and subsequently restored by the PPP/C when they took office in 2020 will continue to be increased, providing further support to parents and guardians.
The school feeding programme, day and night care facilities and early childhood development services will also be expanded, the PPP/C has pledged.
Modernising Technical and Vocational Education (TVET) is also on the cards.

The PPP/C in its next term will introduce civic education to prepare the youths for the future.
On the healthcare side, the PPP/C will build on its current achievements, pledging to expand telemedicine, enhance the quality of patient care and introduce targeted care for women and children.
The recruitment and training of healthcare professionals to further complement Guyana’s accessible and worldclass healthcare sector is also being pledged by the PPP/C.

SAFE COUNTRY, SECURE COMMUNITIES
Guyana’s territorial sovereignty is being treated with the utmost importance by the PPP/C and in a summary of its 2025-2030 manifesto, the government has pledged to strengthen capabilities to protect our borders and our Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ).
In communities, there will be expanded police presence across all regions along with the use of modern surveillance and crime-fighting technology.
The training of security services, including mandatory integrity and human rights training is also on the cards.

EXPANSION OF HOUSING
The PPP/C, while already fast-tracking housing applications and delivering beyond its previous 2020 manifesto target of 40,000 houses is pledging to even further expand the national housing programme, fast-track housing applications and upgrade existing communities.

UNLOCKING OPPORTUNITIES, IMPROVING WELFARE
President Ali and Dr. Jagdeo have outlined several plans that could even further transform Guyana’s landscape, providing more socio-economic benefits to the ordinary Guyanese.
Aside from expanding connectivity and access to markets, the PPP/C has pledged to advance waterfront and river transport development.
Establishing more public spaces for family-friendly recreational and leisure activities is also on the cards.

Citizens will be able to access all government services online in the PPP/C’s next term.
In the PPP/C’s next term, they will be continuing the sustainable management of our natural resources (LCDS 2030 Plus), promoting greater financial empowerment, through financial literacy, financial inclusion, capital market reforms, and innovative investment instruments.
Fighting the scourge of domestic violence will be further tackled.

There will also be enhanced focus on a cultural policy and promoting national values and more support to the creative industry.
And there will be increased attention to animal welfare.

MORE IN YOUR POCKET, CUSHIONING COSTS
The PPP/C has also pledged to: Continue salary increases for public sector employees; Increase Old Age and NIS pensions; Increase Public Assistance grants; Providing additional cash grants to households and individuals; Ensure affordable electricity to all consumers; Reduce the cost of cooking gas; Continue efforts to keep fuel prices low; Expand local farmers’ markets to reduce food prices; Maintain policies to keep interest rates low, especially for home ownership.