GEORGETOWN, Guyana – The ruling People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) marked its first anniversary in office on Monday with President Dr. Irfaan Ali promising to defend democracy and uphold human rights in Guyana.
President Dr. Irfaan AliIn a nationwide radio and television broadcast to mark the occasion, Ali said that he would also be honoring those persons and organizations that ensured the country will not have to “endure the agonizing and fearful ordeal that we suffered for five months from March 2, 2020 to August 2, 2020
“Never again shall we countenance, in our country, any attempt to deny the popular will of the people,” Ali said, adding “never again should the air of freedom that we breathe be poisoned by the noxious fumes of electoral malpractice, and fraud.
“Never again should our integrity as a nation be threatened by the base motives and the nefarious intrigues of those who will defy the will of the people, and subvert our democracy, and their lust for personal power.”
The PPP/C was declared winners of the elections by the Guyana Electoral Commission (GECOM) after various recounts and court battles after the incumbent coalition administration, A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) maintained it had won the polls.
The APNU has filed a petition challenging the outcome of the elections and several GECOM officials, including the chief elections officer Keith Lowenfield, are before the courts on a number of charges arising out of the controversial regional and general election.
“We established with resolve that Guyana and the Guyanese people are committed to democracy and democratic principles including respect for the majority,” Ali said, adding that “that victory was ours, ours as a people longing for peace, progress and prosperity. It was a triumph for rule of law, and democracy and ‘One Guyana’.”
He told the nation that those, governments, organizations and people who made sure that Guyana’s fight for democracy would not be forgotten as well as those “whose moral sense rejected electoral theft in favor of truth, transparency and trust.
“I commend civil society, the private sector, our young people and the media for standing up for democracy.
“I acknowledge with thanks the important part played by members of our diaspora who made their voices heard…I thank CARICOM, the Organization of American States (OAS), the Commonwealth, and the international community for the steadfast support and for us to regain our rightful place in the global family of democratic nations,” Ali said, singling out the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada and European Union for their support.
But he told the country that even though the results were certified those who were engaged in seeking to reverse the results were still masquerading as ‘paragons of virtue.’
“[They continue] to try to deceive and mislead the people whose hopes they dashed and whose beliefs they destroyed. They remain trapped in the failed politics of race and in the flawed policies of division, offering no new ideas, No novel vision, and no creative pathways for Ghana’s future. They have become yesterday’s shadows.
“By contrast, over the past year, I’ve made clear by words, and by deeds, my deep and swerving commitment to One Guyana: One People, One Nation, in which all races and all persons are equal, with common rights, common entitlements and shared benefits.
“From the first day of my presidency, I’ve insisted on and demonstrated a firm commitment to good governance and transparency, to upholding fundamental human rights and to advancing equitable development for all,” Ali added. in his broadcast, Ali said that Guyana is on the cusp of “massive socio-economic” transformation that can take it to new heights of prosperity.
“We have only just begun the climb. But all of us are now imbued with the confidence that we will reach those heights if we do it together. Never have our people been so buoyant, so positive, and so sure that economic good fortune has smiled upon us and that a real chance is within our grasp to lift up Guyana and all Guyanese.”
He said that recognizing the importance of energy sufficiency, reliability, affordability and sustainability, the government has commenced investment in the energy sector, aiming for a new generation capacity of at least 500 MW in the immediate term, with the option to expand this further in the longer term.
Ali said that major initiatives in this sector will include the gas-to-shore project terminating at the Wales Development Authority, resulting in 250 MW of new power generation being constructed, the Amaila Falls Hydropower Project, which will deliver another 160 MW of new power and the solar generating capacity that will be installed to deliver at least 30 MW of power.
In addition, he said, within individual remote communities and clusters of communities, stand-alone renewable solutions will also be explored, including hydropower and solar power plants as well as stand-alone solar panels.
“Work in all of these areas have commenced and are at various stages of implementation. The final outcome would see energy cost slashed by at least 50 per cent before the end of 2024.”
Ali also disclosed that Guyana has been successful at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) with regards its ongoing border dispute with Venezuela and the validity of the 1899 award.
“It is the first step on our way forward to confirming Guyana’s patrimony, and we are proceeding with vigor and confidence to the next stage of the judicial Hearing on the Merits of our Case.”
Ali said that over the past year, despite the challenges, the government has been working to implement a comprehensive plan to transform Guyana into a highly prosperous country, for the benefit of all Guyanese in the shortest possible time.
“Based on the PPP/C manifesto on which we campaigned for the 2020 elections and on which we were elected, we have commenced the transformative agenda in building a modern, safe, prosperous and united Guyana in which all our people can realize their dreams and aspirations,” Ali told the country.
