In preparation for the upcoming General and Regional Elections, the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) has started rolling out its policies and plans for the country and its people, should it get into office.
The Party’s manifesto is being rolled out in phases, according to PPP’s General Secretary and Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo.
He explained to reporters at his weekly press conference on Thursday that the first version of the manifesto will be in the form of posters circulating, containing some of the policies the Party plans to institute immediately upon taking office. The second phase, he noted, will be a more popular version of the manifesto, while the final version will be a detailed technical document.
The manifesto, he added, will be launched closer to elections and will give people more insight into the Party’s vision for the future of the country and its people.
Already, the PPP has published on its social media accounts several of these posters, outlining the removal of Value-Added Tax (VAT) on key areas such as electricity, water and healthcare, among other things.
However, adding to this, Jagdeo disclosed at his press conference that high, also, on the Party’s agenda is the reversal and/or reduction of the over 200 tax measures imposed by the coalition administration— such as on building materials, on data, and exports.
He pointed out that a government should be encouraging more exports so that foreign currency can be earned and more jobs created locally, not trying to stifle exports.
The PPP General Secretary went on to outline too that the Party will reverse the VAT on farming, mining and forestry equipment, which he said has caused untold difficulties for farmers, miners and those in the forestry sector.
Another area Jagdeo said much emphasis will be placed on is the education sector, which will include 20,000 online scholarships. This, he said, will be in addition to what is being done at the University of Guyana (UG).
Moreover, the PPP General Secretary also spoke of his Party’s plans to offer free university education within its five-year term in office.
Furthermore, Jagdeo said that the PPP/C Presidential Candidate, Irfaan Ali, will also be rolling out some additional measures to stimulate private education as well as a plans to tackle the issue of outstanding UG loans.
According to the General Secretary, the Party’s education policy is a comprehensive approach not just focusing on the tertiary level.
Other areas the PPP plans to address when it gets into office include reducing the age limit on the importation of vehicles, which Jagdeo said will take more than $1 million dollar off the current costs of vehicles, thus, more affordable for Guyanese. Added to this is the reversal of the 2AM curfew, the restoration of the Joint Services bonus, as well as the support for small businesses via grants and interests free loans to promote entrepreneurship.
Moreover, the PPP General Secretary outlined too that his party will roll out an extensive plan on how Guyanese will benefit from the riches expected from the impending oil and gas sector.
With the first phase of the manifesto roll-out already on the way, Jagdeo said the popular version of the document will soon be released.
