-Dr. According to Jagdeo, he emphasizes a balanced approach to Guyana’s growth and prosperity

RESPONDING to continued criticism of the policies of the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) administration, the party’s Secretary General, Dr. Bharrat Jagdeo, on Thursday asserted that the government’s approach to Guyana’s development was up to par. both comprehensive and balanced.

At his weekly press conference, Dr Jagdeo defended the government’s strategy of investing in long-term infrastructure while simultaneously boosting non-oil sectors of the economy, arguing that the country’s prosperity must be built on a diversified base, not only on the oil and gas sector.

“So we argued that there needed to be a balanced policy. We must take the necessary long-term measures to maintain our prosperity in the future, even beyond oil,” remarked Dr. Jagdeo.

“We have been very successful in this area. More than 60,000 jobs have been created in this field, which helps people earn an income, those who are not working. We also made up for this by increasing public sector wages by an additional $90 billion per year.

For three years, opposition actors have accused the PPP administration of neglecting Guyanese in favor of large-scale infrastructure projects.

The opposition parliamentary party, the People’s National Congress/Partnership for National Unity (PNC/APNU), has argued that the government’s focus on infrastructure rather than direct economic support to citizens has left many Guyanese without tangible benefits from the country’s new wealth. The opposition, according to Dr Jagdeo, has failed to present a viable plan to address these concerns.

Dismissing these claims, Dr Jagdeo stressed that the government’s economic policies are designed to create a balanced and sustainable growth model that ensures prosperity for all Guyanese, now and in the future.

He stressed that the government is committed to developing the country’s productive capacity by investing in sectors other than oil, including agriculture, hospitality and manufacturing.

Additionally, the PPP administration has implemented measures to ensure that workers in various sectors enjoy the tangible benefits of the country’s economic growth.

The government has increased public sector wages by $90 billion a year, providing much-needed support to civil servants.

Additionally, emphasis has been placed on improving the livelihoods of women, retirees and people with disabilities, with programs such as cash grants for children and financial assistance for the elderly.

This approach, Dr Jagdeo explained, aims to ensure that no one is left behind, especially in an era of rapid development driven by oil and gas revenues. While infrastructure projects such as roads, bridges and public amenities are vital to long-term national growth, the PPP/C government is also focused on meeting the immediate needs of the people.

“More women, especially now, have jobs and so on. We are spending another 10 billion there. Balance this by giving more money to our pensioners and children through the Cash Allowance and people living with disabilities. We have now decided to extend this benefit to all Guyanese because we can afford it right now. But we are not giving up on long-term goals that they have no idea about because they have no plan so far as a political party.

Dr Jagdeo also cited recent developments in vehicle registration as a key example of the positive impact of government policies.

He noted that in just six months, the country had seen a significant increase in the number of registered vehicles, a sign of an expanding middle class and growing prosperity.

Dr Jagdeo believes these are tangible results and the expansion is evident: more and more Guyanese are benefiting from government policies.
He said the PPP administration is building prosperity and will continue to do so across the country.

Despite criticism from political opponents, Dr Jagdeo remains confident in the PPP’s vision for Guyana’s future.

He said the government will continue to invest in infrastructure while ensuring that policies remain inclusive and responsive to the needs of the entire population.

He stressed that long-term objectives of diversification ensuring Guyana’s economic prosperity long after oil reserves are depleted remain a key pillar of government’s strategy.

The PPP government maintains that its balanced approach is the most effective way to ensure lasting economic prosperity, equitable growth and sustainable development for all its citizens.