Residents from across the Berbice River turned out in large numbers at Wiruni on Wednesday to demonstrate their strong support for the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) as the 1 September General and Regional Elections approach.
Prime Minister Brigadier (Ret’d) Mark Phillips reciprocated the crowd’s energy with a message outlining the Government’s commitment to continued development, economic growth, and inclusion for all Guyanese, regardless of where citizens live or their political persuasion.
He recalled the Government’s performance since returning to office in August 2020, including the immediate steps taken to safeguard lives during the COVID-19 pandemic and restore economic stability.
“You had a Government that went above and beyond when it took office… We saved lives, and also we re-energised and re-invigorated the economy of Guyana.”
Prime Minister Phillips also highlighted the concrete steps taken by the ruling administration to ensure the economy was not only revitalised but expanded.
“When we took office, tens of thousands of people were out of a job. People were not working, some were demoralised, and step-by-step, policy-by-policy, decision-by-decision, we implemented and brought this country to where we are today. Today, we have over 60,000 jobs created in the private sector, the public sector, and across all administrative regions of Guyana.”
He remind that the Government’s track record of delivery is evident across all sectors and from macro to micro levels, pointing to investments in health, education, housing, infrastructure, and the restoration of social benefits that were discontinued between 2015 and 2020.
“When we took office, we ensured the health centre was not only repaired—we modernised it. We didn’t only repair the school. We listened to you and decided that we would build a secondary school right here for you. And with regards to the training of young people, no longer are we training 200 or 300 teachers; we train teachers by the thousands in Guyana today. Every year, 1,500 to 2,000 teachers graduate, so every school has either trained teachers or those currently undergoing training.”
He further outlined the expansion of the GOAL Scholarship Programme and the Government’s commitment to human resource development.
“In the first five years, 2020 to 2025, we had planned to issue 20,000 GOAL scholarships. We surpassed 39,000. These are the opportunities that we have been working overtime on, implementing for you, the people. In the next five years, we will build upon our achievements from 2020 to 2025 and do even more.”
Prime Minister Phillips underscored that the PPP/C will continue to ensure Guyanese benefit first from the country’s economic growth, pointing to the passage of the landmark local content law.
He explained that this legislation guarantees Guyanese the first opportunity for employment in all sectors, with foreign hiring permitted only when no suitably qualified local candidate can be found. He emphasised that this policy is designed to protect local jobs while creating the conditions for citizens to take advantage of new opportunities through education, skills training, and professional development.
He also reminded residents of the stark contrast between the current administration’s people-centred policies and the previous government’s approach, which resulted in widespread job losses and a lack of meaningful support for citizens due to poorly conceived policies that failed to address the needs of the population.
Speaking on future development, Prime Minister Phillips emphasised that a PPP/C-led administration will continue to prioritise the well-being of children from birth through expanded cash grants and targeted national programmes. He detailed plans to modernise schools, introduce transportation grants to ease family travel expenses, and reinforce local employment through strong local content policies, underscoring the party’s commitment to inclusive and sustainable development across Guyana.
A unified call was also made for residents to support the PPP/C at the upcoming elections, ensuring the continuation of the country’s development momentum and the delivery of projects that will benefit every community, including those along the Berbice River.
“So, when you go to the polling place on the 1st of September, you will enter the polling place knowing you are putting your X next to the cup. You are voting for continued economic growth in Guyana, continued development for you, and a better future for your children.”
Minister of Finance and the Public Service, Dr Ashni Singh; Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Hugh Todd; and Minister of Public Works, Juan Edghill were also at the public meeting.
Discover more from INews Guyana
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
