WHEN President, Dr Irfaan Ali stood before residents at Kuru Kururu recently and outlined his sweeping plan for the Soesdyke-Linden Highway, he did more than promise paved roads, 24/7 electricity and clean water from the tap: he also offered a compelling vision of what equitable, transformative development should look like in Guyana.
With the September 1 General and Regional Elections fast approaching, it is no surprise that infrastructure is front and centre in the political discourse.
But what sets this announcement apart is not merely the scale of the promised works; an expanded GPL transmission line; a state-of-the-art hospital; modern roads; treated water systems; new housing; upgraded recreation grounds and clear plans for sustainable communities, but the underlying principle that communities like Kuru Kururu should not be left behind as Guyana’s economy booms.
The Soesdyke-Linden corridor has for too long been defined by its isolation, limited services, ad hoc settlements and underdeveloped local economies.
President Ali’s declaration that children born along this corridor should have no lesser access to modern healthcare, decent roads, safe drinking water, and sustainable jobs than those in Georgetown is not just welcome rhetoric, it is a moral imperative for a country experiencing unprecedented economic growth.
Yet, beneath the new roads and hospitals lies a larger question: Will these promises translate into lasting, people-driven development, or will they fade into the familiar story of unfinished works and unmet expectations?
This is where the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) hopes to distinguish itself, presenting a slate that is youthful, multi-ethnic and national in scope; a campaign platform anchored in the Low Carbon Development Strategy (LCDS); and a record that its leaders claim speaks for itself.
Meanwhile, former president and current PPP General Secretary Bharrat Jagdeo has positioned the party as the only viable steward of Guyana’s economic transformation.
With 60,000 new jobs reportedly created, new hospitals commissioned, and free university education now a reality, the PPP/C wants the electorate to see its next term not as a blank cheque for political favours, but as an extension of the work already underway.
To its credit, the PPP/C’s narrative appears clear: This election is about building on foundations, not tearing them up for short-term political points.
It is about community wealth creation — giving residents tools to build homes, start businesses, and own their future. It is about capacity building — ensuring local youths become the nurses, teachers, engineers, and managers who will sustain this development long after the ribbon-cutting ceremonies are over.
However, the onus is on the government, and the electorate, to hold this vision to account. The promises of more accessible loans, reduced tax burdens, and aggressive infrastructural rollouts must be backed by transparent budgets, timely execution and local oversight.
The words spoken at Kuru Kururu must translate into classrooms where children learn safely, clinics where mothers receive dignified care and roads that withstand more than one rainy season.
Importantly, as President Ali reminded the gathering, dignity cannot be bought for cash or cheap promises from those who see votes as commodities.
Guyana’s voters must demand more than photo opportunities and political pageantry: they must demand results, and they must do so with their ballots and their voices long after elections day.