“Our Republic is galloping into modernity” is the message President Irfaan Ali delivered on Wednesday night on the eve of the 53rd anniversary of Guyana’s Republican status.
At a flag-raising ceremony at Public Buildings, he declared that the government was laying the foundation for the post-2030 Guyana, one in which:
Every child will be able to have access to and benefit from a quality education in classrooms that are safe, non-intimidating and equipped to bring out the best in him or her;
Every citizen will be able to walk into a regional hospital and receive expeditious care and treatment;
Where those who flout the law will know that there are consequences for doing so;
Where every pensioner will be able to enjoy a dignified existence;
Where our young people will be afforded opportunities, previously denied, to pursue productive careers;
Where there is an efficient, customer-friendly and responsive public service;
Where women are assured to equal opportunities and respect;
Where every family will be afforded the opportunity to own their own home;
Where growth is tempered with equality and where no person is denied opportunities because of where they live; and
Where our people and communities enjoy a harmonious and inclusive future under the One Guyana banner.
He said that his government is not averse to constructive criticism and appeared to take aim at those who have been saying that here has not been an equitable distribution of oil proceeds.
“But we are also aware that there are forces within our midst who are seeking to manufacture divisions and strife in pursuit of their narrow and naked attempt to wrest political power. We are also aware of the naysayers in our midst whose egos and appetite for attention brook no restraint. Like a recurring decimal, they simply go on and on ignoring the efforts we have made in securing billions of dollars in additional related benefits for our people through local content legislation and the sale of carbon credits. They are blind to the reality that through the Natural Resource Fund Act we are ensuring that the use of our oil resources is prudent, being made more transparent and secure for present and future generations! Their negativity, however, will not retard our efforts to pursue prosperity and progress”, he stated.
In the unpredictability of the weather and changing climatic conditions, the world seems an unsettled place, he said.
“What will be the next norm? How are we preparing for that storm? And how do all of us survive? It cannot be in isolation of each other. It cannot be in self-defence – rather it must be through a collective effort – a collective defence – and a collective chain of action that strengthens itself with the intensity of the storm and locks itself into the strength of each link – whether it is the storm of food insecurity, energy insecurity and climate insecurity – it is our collective effort as a nation – as a people, as a society and as a family that will ensure we are all protected, we are all safe and we all succeed”, he said.
The President added: “I pledge to be at the head of the storm’s defence system and to be that leading link that embraces every other link that forms itself into the Guyanese family. To secure our future, safeguard our land, preserve the beauty of a unified people and uplift the aspiration of a hopeful people -like the rising sun, in its radiant beauty – but as it moves to sunset battling through varied cloud cover, so too on this journey we must battle those dark days and dark clouds – we must strengthen our roof of nationhood to withstand the wind and rains and create a shelter against all forces that seek to darken the horizon, and remove every action that aims to weaken the spirit of the Guyanese people”.
Earlier, the President had delivered the standard PPP/C line about the historic rigging of general elections and referred to a scathing 1990 report by the Caribbean Conference of Churches on the dire state of the country that year.
He also adverted to the attempt to rig general elections in 2020.
“Things have gotten better in the Republic. But that would not have been possible had democracy not been maintained and devious attempts to dislodge democratic elections repelled. This is why we must continuously safeguard our democratic gains”, he said.
President Ali went on to cite improvements in education, health and other sectors.
“Today, not only is Guyana topping the Caribbean at the CSEC and CAPE examinations, but our top-performing students are emerging from across the country. More schools are being built, teachers’ training is being improved, thousands of Guyanese are improving their academic qualifications and skills as a result of the Guyana Online Academy of Learning (GOAL), a world-class institute for technical training is being established, technical vocation education is being boosted, and the Because We Care Cash grant has been restored to assist in equipping students. Education is being set on the right footing for 2030 and beyond.
“Health care is being revolutionis-ed. Six new regional hospitals are being constructed. These hospitals will provide level four and five services, including full Accident and Emergency Departments, surgical capacity, full diagnostic imaging services, including digital x-rays and ultrasound and CT scans and laboratory services. A new maternity and a paediatric hospital is being established. In partnerships with external institutions, Guyana is being geared to offer world-class health services to its citizens,
inclusive of speciality healthcare services”, he said.
Ali also said that national security is being enhanced.
“The security services are being recapitalised in order to preserve internal law and order and deter and repel external threats”, he stated.
By the end of 2025, he said that some 50,000 house lots would have been allocated to Guyanese.
“A smart city is under planning and development. Local democracy is being renewed with the holding of local government elections this year. In the meantime, we are bringing tangible improvement to the lives of citizens within their communities”, Ali asserted.
