PPP/C Presidential Candidate outlines extensive programme for next term

Fulfilled promises, future national uplifting plans and a sound and proven track record of the People’s Progressive Party /Civic was today highlighted by the party’s Presidential Candidate Bharrat Jagdeo during a special interview with the Television host, of National Communications Network programme “Close up”, Martin Goolsarran.

“We have an extensive programme for 2006 to 2011 and it builds on a foundation that we have laid before. It is realistic and based on detailed costing for implementing the programme, the Presidential candidate said while commenting on the Party’s 2006 manifesto.

He assured that a significant part of the financing for the programme has been secured, “It is not going to be inflationary, it will not run up our foreign debt significantly and it focuses on resolving the things that are important to our people.”

 

He said his party’s manifesto gives priority to a number of critical areas inclusive of:

1. economic growth, revenue generation, employment creation,
2. education,
3. social sector enhancement
4. ensuring accountability and strengthening democracy
5. public safety, restructuring of the Guyana Police Force and
6. strengthening international cooperation.

Within these areas, he said, there exits detailed sectoral plans and policies for achieving these goals.

He urged that Guyanese should read a copy of the PPP/C’s manifesto to garner a deeper understanding of the plans.

 

Highlights

 

Hinterland development

He said $1.5B is being spent on hinterland roads. “That would make a big difference to Amerindian communities; it would allow them to ship their produce to Georgetown by road and not have to fly it out which is very expensive. It would lower the cost of living in those areas.”

Sports development

Another initiative Mr. Jagdeo admitted he is enthused about is the increased focus on sports in all disciplines.

He said, “We intend to create three new indoor multi purpose complexes like the National Sports Hall, one each in Berbice, Essequibo and Linden. We are going to create a sports development fund with at least $100M per year to support all the sporting associations in Guyana in all disciplines.”

Building youth capacity

“We have set aside $1.5B to train 25,000 young people with entrepreneurial skills and we hope to give them some micro credit that they can create some new businesses.

This, he said, will complement the thousands already trained through the technical institutes.”

Assistance for Single parents

The Presidential candidate said a Single Parent Assistance Plan will be established to assist single parents through the provision of grants and small loans which would allow them to create an income base to sustain and provide for their family.

Child protection

“We will create a Child Protection Agency that will ensure predators do not harm our children.

Expansion of tertiary education

Presidential Candidate Jagdeo said university education will be expanded and taken to different parts of the country through distance education and through the development and deployment of Information Communications Technology.

“We hope to connect 80,000 households to the internet,” he added.

Alternative electricity

He said another alternative to electricity provision will be achieved through the establishment of a hydro power facility.

Housing the nation

The PPP/C’s Presidential Candidate said during 2006 and the next term in office emphasis will continue to be placed on housing the nation.

“We are going to continue aggressively in the housing area so that everyone could receive a piece of land,” he expanded.

“These are just some of the things. These are not wild promises like some of the others are making without any regard as to how it will be funded, we have already secured resources for these things,” Jagdeo emphasised.

 

PPP/C’s track record, strides made

 

Mr. Jagdeo in defense of his party’s track record said “We have a track record, (PPP/C) since it took Office, but let us go back to 2001, the last five years, let me tell you some of the things that were done,” he explained.

• the construction of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) headquarters was a promise made in 1975 - it has been fulfilled
• The Berbice River Bridge - since 1968 a study was done but it never materialised, we signed the contract for the Bridge, it is going to happen, it is a reality
• A Hydro power facility - since the 1950 the PPP was trying to build a hydro power plant, it was manipulated out of Government it never happened, we just signed a US$300M deal for that facility after about seven years of working on it, because it takes time to develop those things.
• Breaking the telecommunications monopoly by the Guyana Telephone and Telegraph Company, we brought CelStar and we just signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Digicel
• US$162M Skeldon modernisation plan, the most modern sugar factory in Latin America which is currently under construction.
• RUSAL, Olendorf and CAMBIOR jointly have invested over US$100M in the bauxite industry making bauxite stable in the Berbice River
• $12B on upgrading infrastructure in housing areas
• $2B to the Guyana Power and Light Company for the provision of electricity to 47,000 household, 37,000 of which have already received electricity
• The Cheddi Jagan International Airport has been upgraded, the runway resurfaced
• Provision of a Cricket Stadium
• Increased employment for youths

“I can point to a number of things, these are the big projects but there are hundreds of other things that have happened that have moved our country forward…These are all things in the past that were promises and we are making it a reality,” Jagdeo pointed out.

 

PPP/C’s slate

Commenting on the make up of the PPP/C’s slate the Leader of the party said the team has a combination of experienced and youthful members.

“We have people of all races, religion and professions from farmers, lawyers, doctors, engineers you name it because we see our team as a microcosm of Guyana, the larger society.” He added, “There will be many new faces in the Cabinet.”

 

Crime

Mr. Jagdeo commented on his party’s position on the crime situation in the country.

“We still have to work at this, …our police force is less equipped but they have done a better job than many police forces around the Region because the crime rates in Jamaica and Trinidad and many Caribbean countries are high and they had more resources because they did not have to deal with the PNC’s debt, they had more resources,” he maintained.

Mr. Jagdeo said there is another phenomenon at work in the society apart from the influx of criminal deportees, the apparent link between members of the main opposition and criminals.

“They say they are tough on crime but ask Corbin and Trotman how they voted when we tried to toughen the laws against kidnappers, they voted against it.,” he revealed.

He also cited the instance when the PNC also voted against the law put forward in the National Assembly by the Government to monitor the criminal deportees: the drug dealers, rapists and murderers who were being sent back and they voted against it. “They said these people have rights,” Mr. Jagdeo added.

He went on to say, “You cannot be seen hugging Oliver Hinckson when he was arrested by the army and police a month ago. This sends a clear signal to the security forces when the leader of the opposition embraces a criminal.”

He explained that support from the opposition in the fight against crime is a critical element.

“In any country where the Opposition does not support the fight against crime there will be problems. It makes it significantly harder for the law enforcement agencies. We know of the time when the army and police aided Buxton and the Leader of the Opposition and the PNC would issue a statement saying they were harassing people, innocent people and they mobilize protest action against the police blocking them from going into operations, we know of this period.”

He said “We have to make tough changes and we have to hold people accountable, it means maybe even changing the laws of the country, because today I cannot remove a Commissioner of Police once he is appointed even if he performed badly, he can only be removed for bad behaviour.”

In the new reforms to come we have to examine if you are going to hold me accountable. I also need the tools to be able put some one who I think could do the job, that will be done and we have to look at the reforms being proposed by the Scottish Police and with Mr. Kerick’s involvement now, having him work along with our senior policemen to hold people more accountable.”

He said more tools will be provided to assist the Police force with fighting crime.

 

No discrimination!

When asked to respond to allegations made by other political parties about the existence of discrimination in the current Governmental systems the PPP/C presidential candidate unequivocally stated that no such thing exists at the policy level.

“The PNC looks at things through a racial prism and I dare them to say to our face that there is discrimination…We have a philosophy to ensure that no one at the policy level will practice any acts of discrimination.”

He explained that criticisms leveled at the PNC are directed solely to the leadership of the political grouping and not its supporters.

Jagdeo went on to provide evidence as to the existence of discriminatory acts under the rule of the PNC.

“I know many, many PNC supporters who did not benefit from the 30 years that they ruled Guyana undemocratically, I know many poor people who did not have a piece of land and their children did not get scholarships because they (scholarships) were reserved for many of the big people’s children, the ones in the leadership of the PNC and that level.”

Today, Jagdeo said, “thousands of scholarships have been given out and to poor people all across this land of all races. When we give out house lots we don’t ask about your political affiliation. That is the difference between us. I dare them to say that there is a single policy that discriminates against any Guyanese.”

He conceded that there may exist individual cases because there are always “foolish people” who might discriminate against one another but in terms of policy the PPP/C had made sure that all Guyanese are treated well.

When asked how he feels about the direction of the polls the ruling party’s presidential candidate said, “We feel that we have the momentum now and we are not taking things for granted, we are asking people to support us , not only the traditional PPP base but everywhere. I was in Moruca, Port Kaituma, Mabaruma, Linden and several communities.”

He said he wrote letters to people in many communities asking them to work with the PPP/C government to ensure a brighter future for all.

“I have written the letters, because the PNC has done a good job of spreading rumours, propagating all kinds of unfounded things to deter people from the PPP saying PPP is an Indian Party. I have written to people in South Georgetown and other parts of the country asking them to work with us to move our country forward.

If they understand out hearts and they work with us for a while they would know that the lies that they were told were designed to keep them away from moving forward and linking up with us, even if they do not vote for us they must understand that we want to work with everyone to move this country forward,” he explained.

 

Political tolerance

The present Head of State and PPP/C presidential Candidate lauded the apparent display of tolerance exhibited by Guyanese during the elections campaign period.

“There was a time when you could not campaign in certain communities. I have seen the tolerance displayed, never mind the few billboards and posters that were torn down, that is not a big deal for us, but I have seen the tolerance in communities whereas in the past there was hostility. In the flood time it did not matter who was affected all we were concerned about is that our people needed us and we responded, it did not matter which party they belonged to or what race they were and that is how I intend to run this country.

When we are through with this period and I am sure that the PPP will win the elections, it will be my last term, so for the next five years I want to continue to make my contribution to society. Any Government that I run will be done for all the people of this country.”

 

Expectations

Presidential candidate Jagdeo expressed a number of expectations with the imminence of the polls.

“I hope people show up and vote and that the elections commission will tabulate and announce the results very early. I hope that after that would have happened, we would have a smooth swearing in process and that the losers and the winners will all be gracious in defeat and victory and we understand that we have to work together in an enhanced framework for cooperation.”

He said upon the PPP/C’s return to Office he intends to provide an enhanced framework for cooperation.

“Whilst we are not talking about power sharing, but an enhanced framework for cooperation, where we can work together, there will still be room for criticisms.”

Jagdeo went on the comment on the role of an opposition party.

“The role of the opposition is not to criticise everything and pull down everything but that seems to be the role it has taken on in Guyana. The opposition has a very important role, to give support when support is needed, creating a better life for people,providing them with more jobs.

“The PNC says today they want to create jobs but we recall the campaign of ‘more fire slow fire’ we recall them saying to investors if you know what is good for you, better stay away, you cannot have that attitude, you have to work with the incumbent, similarly if the incumbent makes a mistake you must feel free to come down hard on them, criticize and expose them.”

He is hopeful that a new a political culture will evolve and that by the next elections Guyanese will not have any fear of going to elections but they will see it as a routine renewal of democratic values and the maintenance and protection of our freedom.

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