People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) presidential candidate Irfaan Ali is betting on the track records of both his party and himself to win the next general elections and deliver campaign promises that he maintains are “not unrealistic.”
Ali, who has been dogged by questions about his academic qualifications since the announcement of his candidacy to lead the opposition, has been campaigning around Guyana and has pledged that he will tackle unemployment, especially among the youth, promising some 50,000 jobs should he be elected.
“This is a commitment to our people. We have done the analysis and firmly believe we can deliver on the commitment to creating a minimum 50,000 jobs. The PPP/C has a track record of taking its manifesto commitments seriously,” he said in response to questions from Sunday Stabroek.
Ali also highlighted the involvement of young people in the PPP/C’s decision-making while in government. “We have a tradition in the PPP/C government of involving young people in government at every level of decision-making. You can expect this outlook to continue and accelerate,” he said. “We will also create more opportunities through education, access to land, housing, entrepreneurial training, easier access to capital and continuous engagement on the development priorities of Guyana,” he said.
Questions have been asked on various issues and Ali has promised to address all when he returns from Trinidad and Tobago.
Ali has also promised that in the coming days he will also put to rest the doubts over his academic qualifications and how he obtained them.
In the days leading up to the PPP leadership’s election of him as its presidential candidate, documents that suggested that Ali’s qualifications were not authentic were released to the press. He said that he will provide details to refute all the allegations against him.
In the meantime, Ali said that he believes that he can win the upcoming general elections because of the track record of his party and his own experience.
Asked how he planned to deliver a minimum of 50,000 jobs and to respond to the criticisms that his promises are simply empty appeals to the unemployed, he stressed that his party has sound policies. “Some of the job-creation approaches will include but [are] not limited to: reorienting the spending in the budget towards job creation which can see 10,000 more jobs; 11,000 jobs resulting from the reopening of closed sugar estates; 5,000 jobs through the development and implementation of a pragmatic local content policy and legislation for the oil and gas sector; and another 15,000 from the expansion of several service-related sectors, including Informa-tion and Communications Technology,” he said.
He further stated that his plans include wide Diaspora engagement, since he believes that with an emerging oil and gas sector and revenues to be had from it, there are not enough specialists here.
With the PPP/C now finalising its manifesto, Ali said that the public would see an elaborate plan in terms of job creation, revival of various industries and the creation of new sectors.
And while he said it is teamwork among PPP/C members that would guide how he plans to lead if elected to office, the onetime Minister of Housing noted that he also brings years of personal leadership experience.
“The policies and programmes are derived from a team approach and it is my task to lead the party as the Presidential Candidate to promote those plans/programmes. My experience in the Cabinet and as a technician allows me to have a wide perspective in both policy conceptulaisation and implementation. The implementation of large scale projects and initiatives would no doubt be of tremendous benefit, leading Guyana into the future and require a leader with critical skillsets. The future of our country requires leaders with a complexity of skillsets, including managerial, project management, development planning and finance, among others,” he said.
“My training and experience in these areas would, therefore, be an asset. Also, I will surround myself with the best talents available in Guyana and the diaspora in specialised areas critical to our future. At this juncture, our country is badly lacking bold, transformative leadership which I intend to deliver,” he added.
Ali boasted of his record as Minister of Housing and said that the “success stories” recorded during his tenure “speak for themselves.”
“I am proud of what the PPP/C has accomplished as a government in the housing sector. The transformation on the East Bank stretching from Eccles to little Diamond, Building Expo, young professional programmes, public-private partnerships, [and the] 1000 homes project are physical evidence of some of the successes of the housing story. Amelia’s Ward, Wisroc, Tushen, Diamond, Parfait Harmony, Belle West, and the list goes on, are testimony of the successes of the housing story,” he said.
Ali is currently facing criminal charges over the allocation of house lots to fellow Cabinet members and other persons in the Pradoville 2 Housing Scheme during his tenure as Housing Minister. The basis of the charges is that the lands were sold far below market value. He has mounted a challenge in the High Court to have the charges dismissed.
