Dear Editor,
October 5, 2009 marked seventeen years since the return of democracy and free and fair elections in 1992. Integrity was returned to our ballots, which have since been counted at the place of polls. We were returned to respectability and credibility.
We cannot recall this date without simultaneously remembering the name of Dr Cheddi Jagan, who led the struggle for independence, along with his wife Janet Jagan and with the collaboration of many, many colleagues and the support of the Guyanese people. Cheated out of office in 1964 through constitutional fiddling, “cheated but not defeated” he nevertheless remained in the struggle, confident that “ time and history are on our side.” Through the twenty-eight years, when he was kept out of legitimate office he never lost faith or commitment to his country and its people, always putting Guyana first. After democracy and free and fair elections were restored, the PPP/Civic acceded to office and Dr Cheddi Jagan became the first democratically-elected President.
The PPP/Civic government inherited the legacy of the undemocratic PNC regime – a dilapidated physical and socio-economic infrastructure and embarked on their programmes and policies to rebuild the infrastructure and most importantly to tremendously increase spending in the social sectors – health, education, water, roads, social welfare and assistance, often in the face of opposition-created difficulties and resistance.
One of the things which the PPP/C inherited was the external debt of US$ 2.1 billion for which little or nothing could be shown.
Now only 6% of each export revenue dollar is used to service the debt. The debt which has since accrued is not a burden to the people, as it is manageable, being obtained on concessionary terms with low interest rates.
Our social sectors have been considerably improved – health, education, water, roads, social security. We have had and still have many challenges with which we are dealing and it will take time, as they cannot be solved overnight, especially since we had and still have to deal with so many inherited problems.
Guyana continues to make tremendous progress under the visionary leadership and statesmanship of President Bharrat Jagdeo and is poised for a great leap forward to higher levels of development and prosperity and increased opportunities for its people.
Our possibilities have been greatly enhanced under his presidency.
Yours faithfully,
John Da Silva
