Saying that his administration would endeavour to eradicate the enemies of the people, such as crime, disease, ignorance and poverty, President David Granger in his inaugural address to the National Assembly yesterday announced steps the new administration plans to take the country forward.
Among these are the creation of jobs for young people, better education, an increase in police salaries, a moderate increase in public service wages, improving the country’s infrastructure, creating better investment opportunities, tax reforms, autonomy for the Parliament Office and revising the relevant labour legislation. On the legislative agenda are the capping of the benefits in the controversial Former President’s (Benefits and Other Facilities) Act and the Anti-Money-Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism (Amendment) Bill.
Speaking to a packed National Assembly, with only the 32 PPP/C opposition seats empty, President Granger declared the 11th Parliament open by calling for his peers to leave the hostility and rancour of the campaign trail behind them. He called on the PPP/C to join the coalition government in the House to serve the people, reminding them that a month ago, thousands of Guyanese elected them all to craft a collaborative approach to confront the