While ‘first oil’ should have fueled the hopes and aspirations of Guyanese across the country, the political opposition is of the firm conviction that it has morphed into a cause for greater apprehension about the future. It said that this is due to the incompetence and corruption that the APNU+AFC Coalition has demonstrated in the developing sector over the past four-plus years.
In a statement to the press, the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) categorically stated that guarantees that petroleum production will be transformative for Guyana’s economic development and that it will improve welfare and the prosperity of the people are non-existent.
The Party was also critical of Granger’s record in office, even outside the oil and gas sector, which it said reflects the same story: increased borrowing; increased tax collection of $88M more annually, compared to 2014; wasteful spending and depletion of the reserves; deterioration in the delivery of public services, moreso in the health sector; no plans for housing; increased cost of living; escalation of crime and more.
Further to this, the Party said that the President continues to ignore the fact that development, success and prosperity are the result of positive policies which it categorically states is not in place.
The PPP said, “His (President Granger’s) fixation on ‘good life’ speeches will not translate into progress and prosperity for our people; the hard work has to be put in. There can only be positive advances if the oil monies are well managed and the APNU+AFC Coalition has demonstrated its inability in this regard.”
Months out from the March 2020 General and Regional Elections, the PPP/C was also keen to remind that it has already made public, the details on its plans for the oil and gas sector, with in-depth policies and initiatives to be disclosed when the Party’s 2020-2025 manifesto is launched in January 2020.
“We urge all Guyanese to read our eight-page excerpt of the manifesto, which details elements of our planned approach to the sector on issues that include transparent management and a strong regulatory body, as well as plans for the use of resources from the oil and gas sector. The choice ahead of our people is a clear one,” the Party concluded.
