9th March marks the 94th birth anniversary of Mr. Hugh Desmond Hoyte, S.C, M.P, who was President of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana (1985-1992), Leader of the People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR) and Leader of the Opposition.
In memory of him the party, in a social media post, recalls between 1969 and 1984 Hoyte held many ministerial posts including those of Home Affairs, Finance, Works and Communications, and Economic Development. In 1984 was appointed First Vice President and Prime Minister and served as President of the Cooperative Republic from August 1985 to October 1992.
During his presidency, Hoyte initiated far-reaching electoral and economic reforms which strengthened the bases of the democratic culture of Guyana; promoted market-oriented policies and stimulated economic growth, stated the party.
Hoyte is credited for the Economic Recovery Programme (1988), that included the Structural Adjustment Programme, moving Guyana from a state-controlled economy to a private sector driven economy. His programme delivered economic growth years after he left office. Analysts have pointed out the People’s Progressive Party has credit for years of successive economic growth, post Hoyte presidency, that resulted from the infrastructure his administration put in place.
Hoyte was hailed by many as a visionary leader.
In June 2016, Chairman of the Party’s National Congress of Women, Mrs. Volda Lawrence, speaking at a Lecture series to commemorate his memory said, “Mr Hoyte resolutely accepted the responsibilities and challenges of governance; and given the urgency attached to reactivating the productive sectors and rebuilding the country’s infrastructure, he committed to a market-oriented development strategy and deliberately crafted a new development thrust – the Economic Recovery Program (ERP).
“The ERP, a comprehensive matrix of policies and measures designed to restore the sustainable economic development of the country, propelled Guyana to several years of continuous growth, unmatched by any of the policies of the successor Administration, who were the political beneficiaries of the success of the ERP”
