2004: A good one Weekly viewpoint by Robert Persaud
Guyana Chronicle
January 1, 2005

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THE sunset has come on 2004. Many would be looking back and also, spending a lot of time contemplating the future. This is the usual activity at the end of one period and the start of another.

Significantly too, January 1 ushers in the 55th anniversary of the nation’s first and genuinely mass-based political party – the People’s Progressive Party. Reviewing the past years and cogitating on the tasks ahead for this national movement will also preoccupy those of us entrusted to guide it.

It is important that one examine the past 12 months for developments which have had a significant impact on ordinary people’s lives. There is the tendency to harp on the few missteps, tragedies and what could have been done instead of what good has been done and the tremendous progress made in this beautiful land.

The most evident positive features cover nearly all aspects of life in Guyana.

The President, several days ago at his final media conference for the year referred to the list of significant investments and potentially job creation centres which were signed and sealed. These covered both traditional and non-traditional sectors of our economy – sugar, bauxite, oil, hospitality and gold. An investment explosion of in excess of US$250M awaits 2005.

While not upstaging his Finance Minister’s Budget speech, the President used the opportunity to refer to Guyana’s promising macro-economic situation and the country being on a constant growth path.

The private sector was allowed to and fully played its critical role as the engine of growth. The December 24th edition of one of the dailies Business Supplement reported on just a sample of the business community who all reported better performance and satisfactory returns on their investments. The media were awash with reports of profits by various companies. The surge in economic activities can be gauged by a number of factors such as the $3 billion surplus in revenue collection. The many new enterprises opened have provided much needed job creation opportunities, especially for the qualified and skilled youth.

The social services continue to receive much attention. More house lots were distributed; there were improved educational facilities and expanded health care; and a stream of special programmes initiated to reach vulnerable groups including pensioners.

Roads and bridges continue to be repaired or built across the country. Another newly rebuilt highway - Mahaica-Rosignol – will soon be completed as well as modern structures across the Mahaica and Mahaicony Rivers. Berbice, Linden, Essequibo and the Hinterland regions are all sparkling with more infrastructural developmental work and also providing many more jobs.

These and the many more countless examples of 2004 being a good year could not have been possible without the committed, resolute and balanced leadership of our President and his Cabinet. Like in other periods of difficulties and trials, the Head of State was able to rally the nation, offer astute leadership and mobilise support local and foreign to ensure a better life for all our people. His style of walking and working with the ordinary people as demonstrated by his extensive outreach programmes such as rescuing the Capital City from City Hall’s neglect and mismanagement has, excited the nation. The President through the results of his work and tone of message offered further hope to the nation.

The President’s skeptics were silenced when he stuck to his pledge made in February that more of his energies will be spent on nation building and issues which create a better life for his people rather than be engaged in futile politicking and other opposition distractions.

Certainly, the contributions of others especially the ordinary man and woman and Guyana’s friends in the international community cannot be ignored in making this year a good one to be remembered.

On a recent broadcast of NCN Radio’s Let’s Gaff, a Guyanese, Rev. Fraser of New York, one of the thousands who returned home for the holidays, expressed his delight at developments in Guyana since he migrated five years ago. His observation is the same as many, many others. For those of us who live here, the ringside witnesses to the daily progress, we have less of an appreciation of happenings around us. Those who have left and are now returning appreciate better the on-going transformation of this land. Perhaps, visitors’ frequent reminders of the positives are in order.

No doubt there is still much more to be done. Our President’s New Year’s Address to the Nation will, expectedly, point us to some of those priority areas for 2005 so that we can all make it an even better year than 2004.
A Happy New year to all!