Stabroek News has invited the People’s Progressive Party/Civic, A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) and the Alliance For Change (AFC) to submit a weekly column on governance and related matters. Only APNU and the AFC have submitted columns this week.
The APNU+AFC coalition believes that the purpose of government is to facilitate development of citizens. The partnership views development as a personal matter. Development means having a better life today, than you had yesterday. Unlike the PPP, the coalition does not define development as government officials having bigger mansions or more expensive vehicles. Development is about the majority of citizens leading better lives.
The coalition’s approach to governance is markedly different from that of the PPP. We propose to focus on the everyday needs of the majority of Guyanese. Most Guyanese are poor, it is our intention to raise their standard of living by addressing their specific needs. In a country as diverse as Guyana, the needs of various communities have to be assessed, and solutions must be tailor-made to fix the problems that are identified. Creating well-paying, sustainable jobs will be at the top of the coalition’s priorities.
The coalition believes that education is central to lifting Guyanese from the clutches of poverty. We note with dismay, the dismal state of Guyana’s education system. We are concerned that Guyanese are being prevented from realising their full potential because of a lack of educational opportunities. Of particular concern, is the state of educational apartheid which exists between those who are well off and can send their children to private schools and the poor who have to depend on a failing education system. A similar condition exists between students in hinterland and coastal communities. The APNU+AFC will address this situation, as a matter of urgency. The system of public education will be rebuilt from bottom up. We have said that teachers will be the highest-paid public servants. The partnership has made too, a commitment to establishing agricultural and technical institutes in every hinterland region. All Guyanese must be given the opportunity to improve their lives. All citizens must be afforded the chance to develop in order to realize their full potential.
The partnership notes too, that the majority of Guyanese simply cannot make ends meet. We are committed to putting more money into the pockets of hard-working citizens. We will review Guyana’s burdensome tax structure. Raising the income-tax threshold is a major priority. Removing VAT from all household items is our aim. The partnership believes that Guyanese have suffered enough, we are committed to easing that burden. Addressing the high cost of living is another priority of the coalition.
Apart from such sweeping measures, the needs of specific communities will also be addressed. For example, the coalition has been calling for a reduction of the toll on the Berbice River Bridge. Unfortunately for Guyanese, the PPP government responded to our calls by reducing the toll — in December 2013 — for SUV’s, jet skis and vehicles towing boats. How does this benefit poor Guyanese who travel by cars, mini-buses and motorcycles? The partnership will — from the first days in office — rectify this state of affairs. We recognise that Guyanese have needs which are specific to individual communities, and we will work to meet those needs and promote development at the level of individual citizens.
Development is all about quality of life. How does a Marriott Hotel benefit Guyanese, when many of our children must go to bed hungry? Would a bigger airport terminal building put shoes on the feet of our children in hinterland communities? Would a specialty hospital improve healthcare-delivery at the GPHC? The partnership intends to address those issues. We are committed to developing our country by focusing on the needs of the majority of Guyanese people. The PPP sees itself as masters; the coalition will offer servant-leadership and will, therefore, focus on issues of importance to the majority. Instead of catering to the needs of the friends, family and favourites as is now the case, it is the needs of the poor that will receive priority attention.
On May 11, we call on Guyanese to vote for real development. We call on citizens to change the very definition of ‘development,’ by voting for the APNU+AFC coalition. It is time for us to have a better quality of life. It is time for us to have a government that cares for ordinary citizens and not just the privileged. It is time to vote for a better life for all Guyanese.
