Taking a jab at the opposition over its analysis of the recently concluded Local Government Elections, President Irfaan Ali last evening said his party is already thinking ahead of projects that can advance the lives of Guyanese and he signalled the imminent establishment of the long-promised One Guyana Commission.
The President also iterated his government’s commitment to operating a railway system between the East Bank and the East Coast of Demerara.
“And definitely in the next term of office for the People’s Progressive Party, we will be looking to see the viability of having a train along the East Bank, East Coast corridor where the bulk of the population is.” He added, “So we are already thinking way ahead when some of them are still analysing if you lose three seats, if you still win when I’m thinking about the next…project that is going to take our country forward.” Ali was speaking at the commemoration of the 75th anniversary of the Enmore Martyrs. The event marks the deaths of sugar workers Rambarran, Pooran, Lallabagee, Kissoon and Surijballie at the hands of colonial police while demonstrating in front of the Enmore factory.
Speaking at the Enmore Monument site, Ali signalled his intention to work harder in areas where they were not supported at the polls. He dismissed the narrative that communities will now see less of the President and his cabinet walking through and taking note of their concerns. “We are putting all of them on notice. Be ready, because I’m coming harder and stronger, more work, more development, more progress and prosperity for the people,” he exclaimed.
“I want to say that our job is to create prosperity through an inclusive society. Through the reduction of inequalities… one of the major areas of inequality in our society is between urban and rural areas,” he pinpointed. He asserted that the gap has to be bridged to eradicate the inequalities that exist between urban and rural areas.
“The programme that we’re developing and building out will reduce that inequality,” Ali asserted. The President, while noting that inequality is an important philosophical, ideological concept that has to be addressed, said that they must establish a baseline that will ensure everyone benefits.
Ali emphasised that the results of last Monday’s poll will not hinder the development plans of the communities. He said that they have worked hard and have no plans to disappoint their supporters as he hinted at his government’s plan to honour promises made.
“We have to work hard and strong enough to let those persons know that they supported a political system that will stand true to its commitments, that will stand true to its promises, but more importantly, to prove to those who may have made another decision, not on ideas and vision, to prove to them that what we are about is the development of communities and development of our country and prove to them that we present a common platform through which every single person can be a part of,” Ali underscored.
He said with the Local Government Elections over, the time has come for all nonsensical arguments on who won and how they succeeded at the polls to stop and for them to return to work. Moving forward, Ali announced in the upcoming days he will be meeting with stakeholders from across the country to discuss means and ways in which they can advance his government’s agenda on development and prosperity.
One Guyana Commission
“I’ll be aggressively setting up the different structures that I spoke of how to advance our country’s development, which includes a One Guyana Commission. That commission would be established rapidly with the Prime Minister, of course chairing it,” he announced. The commission, Ali said will focus on the rights and priorities of all and will be to the benefit of the policies they are pursuing. The One Guyana Commission had been promised since February 11, 2021 when Ali made his inaugural address to the 12th Parliament.
He also announced yesterday that there will be rapid advancement in addressing the concerns of communities. These concerns were raised while the party was on the ground campaigning in preparation of the local government elections.
“There are four priority areas that have been brought to our attention. Number One priority is security. And security involves ensuring that the infrastructure supports a security system that is lighting, proper lighting and the communities’ safe environment for children and families to go out to have safe zones, the environment in which we develop community life and community-centred development. The second issue is infrastructure, basically, roads, and drainage, those were two main issues in terms of infrastructure. So we’re going to go on an aggressive programme in the communities themselves, but in this programme, we want the communities to be integrated in what we do…” Ali said.
He said during cabinet yesterday, instructions were given to have workers assigned to every single health centre, community centre and school to weed and maintain the aesthetics of the facilities. He added that these works will be supervised by management committees in all the different areas to support a robust maintenance schedule. “So all of that is an output of the process that led to the elections. It was not only about the elections and going and having people voting. For me, it was much larger than that. It was this grand opportunity to get to the communities and to listen to them, analyse what their concerns are, and have the opportunity now to fix community problems,” Ali said.
He said that this approach of taking a timeout from the discussions of macro issues and meeting the people on the ground will bring tremendous benefits in the future.
“We fail to realise that the ones who make the greatest sacrifice are the ordinary workers and the ordinary authors of things. That is why I find so much joy in going to communities, that is where I find my greatest joy in this job. Going into communities and being with people and listening to them and being able to share their pains and work with them,” he expressed. It was on this note, he said that the struggle of the Enmore Martyrs cannot be ignored.
“Their sacrifice represents a spirit of resilience, unity and determination that continues to inspire us in our pursuit of justice, a prosperous and inclusive society. This is what my administration has set out to ensure a prosperous and inclusive society. The development will become more equitable, [we] will touch the lives of every citizen… no one will and must be left behind,” he emphasised.
