PPP/C unveils hallmark manifesto… – Ramotar, Harper outline Vision 2.0

BY DEVINA SAMAROO

In the presence of Executive Members of the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C), members of the diplomatic corps, businessmen and other

President Donald Ramotar addressing the audience at his Party’s manifesto launch at the Marriott Hotel Guyana on Saturday

prominent stakeholders, the ruling Administration launched its long-awaited manifesto in grand style at the Marriott Hotel on Saturday. PPP/C Presidential Candidate Donald Ramotar unleashed his excitement as he spoke about the policies within the Party’s manifesto which he assured will propel Guyana into a modernised economy with promises of economic development, wealth generation and more progress within the nation. “This manifesto represents what we stand for and what we commit to doing and achieving for you, the Guyanese people…this manifesto is based on moving Guyana towards a vision that we have developed in concord to the Guyanese people…ours is a vision of Guyana as a growing economy creating jobs, income and wealth for our people, it is a Guyana endowed with world-class infrastructure that supports our industries and businesses and from which revenues are derived to guarantee our people world-class education, superior health care, reliable and affordable electricity, water, housing and other social services,” Ramotar guaranteed. The Head of State assured that the PPP/C’s manifesto outlines the policies, the rationality behind the plans, the vision and the step-by-step process of how the Administration intends to achieve those plans within the next few years. In painting the picture of the broader strategic focus of the document, Ramotar said the plans aim to promote job creation, income and wealth generation through economic policies geared upon boosting the manufacturing and tourism sectors, assurance of better security, good governance, and the provision and convenient access of facilities and social services to all Guyanese. Ramotar explained that those promises can only be realised through the pursuit of a number of transformative projects which the PPP/C

PPP/C Prime Ministerial Candidate Elisabeth Harper as she prepares to deliver her policy initiatives presentation at the Party’s manifesto launch

Administration intends to embark upon as soon as it regains the authority to take Guyana forward. Those projects include the Amaila Falls Hydropower Project, the Cheddi Jagan International Airport Expansion Project, the Road to Brazil, the Bridge across the Corentyne River connecting Guyana to Suriname, the Deep Water Harbour in Berbice and the new bridge over the Demerara River. Also, within the next five years, Vision 2.0 sets out to ensure every child has a secondary education, that the University of Guyana is transformed into a world-class institution, and that the narrow gaps that currently exist in the education sector become nonexistent. Directing his focus to the health sector, Ramotar pledged to complete the Specialty Hospital, establish a 100-bed ward at the Regional Hospital on the East Bank of Demerara, construct a new hospital in Port Kaituma and complete the expansion of the maternity wing at the Georgetown Public Hospital. As it relates to housing, the PPP/C leader disclosed plans to develop a new urban community on the Soesdyke-Linden Highway and create 5000 additional turnkey homes for low- and middle-income earners. Ramotar also pledged to ensure increased emphasis is placed on fighting crime and reducing lawlessness in the country. He said in order to achieve this, the PPP/C Government intends to invest heavily in the sector by providing greater resources where needed, strengthening laws for better enforcement, improving the judiciary system and employing technology into the system to enhance the quality of the work. Meanwhile, Prime Ministerial Candidate Elisabeth Harper, during the pomp and ceremony, also disclosed excerpts of policies under the various sections within the manifesto. Foremost, she underscored the progress the PPP/C Administration has made within the past years of governance and reassured all that the executive body will work diligently to ensure it continues to build on that growth by improving existing policies and introducing new programmes that will enhance the lives of all Guyanese, particularly the vulnerable groups like women, children, single parents, the elderly and indigenous people. On the topic of education, Harper said the PPP/C will ensure universal secondary and nursery education is achieved, more trained teachers are deployed, the early childhood education programme is realised, children with special educational needs are addressed, Information and Communication Technology (ICT) facilities are available in all classrooms and the quality of teaching at the University of Guyana is improved. With the belief that education is the key pillar of a successful nation, Harper said the PPP/C will seek to provide University-level education on the Essequibo Coast through the provision of extra bureau classes with the vision of establishing a University Campus there. Additionally, she revealed that the Party aimed to expand on the University’s online services so that persons in far-reaching areas can also attain a university education. For those who are not academically capable, Harper promised to provide better opportunities in technical and vocational studies. She also noted plans to establish centres of excellence throughout Guyana in Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics, Arts and modern languages. Harper expanded more on the vision for the education sector by telling the audience of plans to enhance the school guidance and counsellor programmes in school, the implementation of Health and Family Life Education programme in secondary schools to educate young individuals against teenage pregnancy, implement special programmes to cater for school dropouts and develop second-chance programmes for teenage mothers. She added that the PPP/C intends to implement a programme to promote responsible fatherhood among young males. As it relates to children, Harper said the PPP/C Administration will ensure special accommodation is provided for them and better childcare facilitates and services are available. She also noted that there will be better coordination between childcare agencies and the Police Force and Director of Public Prosecutions to ensure child-abuse related cases are treated with priority. Plans to enact the juvenile justice bill and have the Family Court operational are also laid down in the manifesto. In addition, she assured better foster care and adoption services will be provided. Harper also said the PPP/C will roll out plans for the protection and preservation of the Amerindian languages and art forms within the various indigenous groups in the country. And lastly, in reiterating her role in championing the cause for all women in Guyana, Harper pledged to ensure that her Party upholds the rights of women, strengthen the legislation to ensure better justice is provided for women, and expand the micro financing programmes that will benefit all women who seek to become independent entrepreneurs. She also promised to work with the community and collaborate with various organisations to educate against domestic violence with the aim of putting an end to this scourge in society, once and for all.