…once elected
PPP Presidential Candidate Irfaan Ali has outlined several initiatives which he plans to introduce to improve the standard of living for all Guyanese once his party returns to power.
With thousands of jobs lost under the A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC) Government and the rising cost of living in Guyana, PPP Presidential Candidate Irfaan Ali in a recent interview explained his plan to correct this situation, starting with employment creation.
He added that as a party, the PPP has already said that it will be reopening the sugar estates which were closed by the Government, leaving thousands on the breadline.
“We already spoke about reopening the sugar estates, that will help to create income that will help to have the issue of disposable income and spending power corrected in a number of these communities,” he explained.
Government ordered the closure of several sugar estates based on what it has called a “cost-saving measure” which resulted in thousands of workers from Wales, Enmore, Rose Hall and Skeldon being dismissed.
On another corrective measure, Ali committed to the reintroduction of the G$10,000 per child cash grant.
In fact, Ali intends to have this allowance increased to G$50,000 per child after a five-year period.
The PPP presidential candidate pointed out that he believes the money will be useful especially for single parents and deprived families across the country to meet the needs of their children.
Ali said he has also taken note of the water and electricity subsidies for pensioners, something he wishes to reintroduce in Guyana.
“Over a five-year period we are talking about water subsidies for the pensioners of G$2.5 billion, that is being taken away from pensioners so we also have to ensure that we return this and these are things that are going to be done immediately,” he assured.
Additionally, he promised to remove the 14 per cent Value Added Tax (VAT) added to these services by the coalition Government. According to him, these taxes have had tremendous effects on the cost of living for people across Guyana, something he observed during several outreaches to parts of the country.
The coalition Government withdrew the electricity and water assistance programme which had started under the previous Government. For many, this was viewed as a very unpopular move which led to severe hardships for our senior citizens.
Senior citizens had argued when the initiative was scrapped by this Government that their small increase in pension cannot equate to the benefits that were offered through the provision of electricity and water subsidies.
Prior to 2016, pensioners across Guyana received relief from Government through water and electricity subsidies, coupled with a monthly pension.
Further, Ali promised to reinstate bonuses for joint services ranks – an initiative which was scrapped by the APNU/AFC coalition.
“One officer told me that he utilised his bonus to buy a freezer and he is using that freezer at home to supplement his income because he is selling chicken and the freezer helps to keep the chicken throughout the week…he tells me that that has been able to supplement his family income to the extent that he pays his monthly mortgage out of that small business,” Ali shared as he alluded to the importance of the bonus salary.
