-Mustapha says

MINISTER of Agriculture Zulfikar Mustapha on Wednesday delivered an energetic address to the residents of Chesney, Corentyne, expressing unwavering confidence in the People’s Progressive Party/Civic’s (PPP/C) re-election at the upcoming polls.

In a passionate speech, Mustapha declared, “We are confident that we will win this election in a landslide victory,” and later highlighted the numerous achievements of the government while laying out the party’s vision for the future.

He emphasised that the PPP/C has been delivering tangible development to communities across Guyana, stating, “In every single area, we have delivered to the people of the country.” 

This, he said, sets a solid foundation for a resounding victory at the polls.

Reflecting on the 2020 elections, Mustapha argued that if the APNU+AFC coalition had returned to government in 2020, the sugar industry would have faced even greater decline.

He spoke of communities like Chesney, which are closely tied to the operations of GuySuCo, suggesting that under the opposition’s leadership, such areas would have suffered even more.

He later highlighted the PPP/C government’s efforts between 2020 and 2025 to support the sugar sector.

Further, Mustapha referenced his frequent defenses of the agriculture budget in the National Assembly, stating, “I can tell you, because I normally defend the budget for the agriculture sector in the National Assembly. You go and see the kind of questions that they ask me when we voted money for the sugar industry.”

He recalled the criticism he received, and referred to claims from critics that sugar was a burden on the economy.

 Despite this, the PPP/C government invested over $60 billion in the sugar industry.

According to Mustapha, “Because of the opportunities that have been created in this country, people now have choices.”

Addressing sugar workers and residents directly, he reiterated the government’s long-term commitment to the industry, asserting that as long as the PPP/C remains in office, sugar will remain a vital part of Guyana’s economy. He noted that the party’s Manifesto outlines further revitalisation plans. “As long as the PPP/C is in government, sugar will always remain in the country,” he said, before highlighting the emphasis on modernisation and mechanisation to boost production and sustainability.

Minister Mustapha also recalled the closure of the Rose Hall Estate under the former administration while it was still producing 21,000 tonnes of sugar. This development left Canje like a “ghost town,” he said, adding, “Basic amenities and basic utility services people had to give up because they didn’t have the money.”

Promising continued growth under the PPP/C, Mustapha stated, “As long as the PPP/C remains in government, the country will continue to see development.” 

He boasted of widespread improvements to infrastructure, noting, “In every single community across this country, you hardly have any mud dam remaining. We have transformed almost every area in Guyana.” Looking ahead, he said the next term would see the continuation of such development.

In the rice industry, Mustapha recalled the empty promises that were made by the previous government to increase paddy prices. Instead, he said, rice farmers were abandoned, and told that rice was a private business.

In contrast, he outlined the current government’s interventions that have turned rice into one of the most developed industry in the agriculture sector.

The minister also praised the achievements made in shrimp farming, especially in Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne), where shrimp farmers earned $1.6 billion, aided by machinery provided by the government to support farm development. “That is the kind of vision that we have that will bring ease to the lives of the people; that is the vision,” he declared.

With elections just days away, Mustapha issued a cautionary note to voters, warning against falling for hollow promises. “They are going around all over the place,” he said, before emphasising the need to vote based on the track record of governance. “We must never allow them to come again in our community. Four days we are away from an election; an election that will transform this country.”

He insisted that the PPP/C’s work is evident throughout Guyana, saying, “Every single corner of this country you go you will see massive transformation taking place.”

Focusing specifically on Chesney, Mustapha pointed to recent developments such as a new health centre, while eliminating the residents’ need to leave the area to access basic healthcare services.

“Come after elections when we get back into government, all these drains will be concrete drains,” he promised.

Additionally, he told the residents that the PPP/C government can stand firmly on its performance, showing real progress in all sectors. “We are transforming every single community,” he said. “We are fixing all community playgrounds; we are now installing lights. Those programmes will continue. Right here at Chesney at the ballfield you have lights.”

Turning to future infrastructure plans, he announced major projects in Berbice, including a four-lane highway, the construction of a bridge across the Corentyne River to link Guyana and Suriname, and the development of a port facility set to generate thousands of jobs. “We have already transformed the Palmyra site; we have new commercial buildings going up there,” he said, citing the hotel, mall, housing scheme, and stadium.

Mustapha reminded the audience of the government’s active and visible role in development: “You know; you have experienced it,” he said. “You have seen what we have done over the last five years; you have seen us in action.”

He shared that in 50 communities across Guyana, fish-cage farming has generated nearly $58 million per crop in each village.

In Region Six alone, he said, there are 22 local authority areas, all of which are experiencing development.

“We have a government that is bringing people together,” he said, before highlighting that for the first time in the country’s history, all races are uniting under the PPP/C banner.

He then called on citizens to go out on Monday and cast their vote solidly for the PPP/C.