Dear Editor,
I bring your attention to an article on Inews Guyana Facebook page dated 12 March 2025 titled “PPPC not afraid of Mohameds, PNC, AFC APNU- Nandlall”, evidently the PPPC measure of progress and quality of life often drifts into the realm of material achievements, where the visible markers of prosperity such as designer clothing, new cars, and lavish lifestyles take centre stage.
This was expressed by the Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs Anil Nandlall who emphasized these aspects in the context of the People’s Progressive Party’s (PPP) contributions to improving the lives of Guyanese citizens contesting that they are better off under the PPPC government. While acknowledging the importance of economic growth and the resultant material comfort, there is a pressing need to examine this perspective critically.
In democratic societies like Guyana and other country around the world, the measure of a government’s success should ideally extend beyond the visible luxuries enjoyed by a segment of the populace like the Friends, Families and Favourites. Any democratic society success should be measured by essential services that reflect the fundamental rights and needs of every citizen.
Land, potable water, and access to proper healthcare are not simply desirable commodities; they are the bedrock of a dignified life. These services should take precedence over material accumulation, for they form the very foundation upon which wellbeing is built.
Nandlall suggested that Guyanese are now wearing brand-name clothes and enjoying lifestyles that, in some cases, exceed those of their counterparts in the United States and Canada. As exciting as it may seem these indicators are not adequate measures of success for any government.
While this may paint a picture of economic improvement, one must question whether these fleeting indicators truly translate to a better quality of life. Is the ability to purchase expensive clothing indicative of overall happiness? Or does it merely signify superficial success, which can obscure deeper, more pressing societal issues?
Guyanese still face significant challenges regarding access to essential services in major areas like Georgetown, East Coast Demerara and East Bank Demerara and other areas. Potable water has been a dying concern for many Guyanese in many developed area where improvements are desperately needed. While some have access to clean water, many still rely on alternative sources or endure frequent shortages. Land acquisition remains a contentious issue. The right to land ownership have citizens grappling with insecurity.
This leads us to question whether the vision of progress will ever be realized if basic needs remain unmet. There is still absurd amount of blackouts happening in Guyana although there has been a promise in 2024 that blackouts would be a thing of the past. Two power ships have been added to aid with alleviating the blackouts we have increased amount of blackouts.
Moreover, healthcare access is a critical factor that impacts quality of life profoundly. Nandlall mentioned initiatives aimed at enhancing healthcare, such as the Universal Healthcare Voucher programme. We have a failed healthcare system, long waiting times, and a lack of specialized medical services. Access to quality healthcare should not be a privilege reserved for the rich and wealthy; it should be a fundamental right afforded to all citizens.
In a nation rich in resources, the stark disparity between affluence and poverty must be addressed with utmost urgency. Economic progress should be evaluated not only on how many people can indulge in material goods but also on how effectively the government can guarantee access to basic needs for all its citizens. The growth of a nation should not be the achievements of friends, families and favourites ; it is manifested in the wellbeing of its entire populace.
The PPP must pivot its focus toward fostering an inclusive vision of growth that prioritizes fundamental rights and services over mere accumulation of wealth. To fully boast about good governance areas of concern must also include employment opportunities, education, and social equity. Only then can we strive for a truly prosperous Guyana, one where material success does not blind us to the pressing needs of our society, and where the quality of life is defined by much more than the brands we wear or the cars we drive.
Anil’s analogy that Guyanese are better off under the PPPC because of material wealth should be widely denounced and criticized. The PPPC government superficial indicators of success will never beat a holistic understanding of quality of life, one that reaffirms the commitment to ensuring that all Guyanese can lead lives marked by dignity, security, and wellbeing. The call for genuine progress remains, true prosperity lies in the thriving of all, not just a fortunate few like the friends, families and favourites.
Yours truly,
Onix A. Duncan
Vice President
Youth For Change
National Executive Member Alliance For Change
