Guyana’s 60th independence anniversary finds our beloved nation at the threshold of a national renaissance – economically energised, globally recognised, and poised to become one of the defining success stories of the Caribbean and Latin American region in the 21st century.
At this promising juncture in our history, economic transformation, national confidence, and global relevance are converging. Guyana is not simply experiencing growth; it is shaping a new national identity.
For our country, infrastructure, digital systems and the delivery of public goods and services are being modernised at a pace that signals long-term ambition, not short-term prosperity.
For our people, the sense of possibility is more pronounced, with future generations set to inherit broader opportunities, stronger institutions, and a higher quality of life. Our people’s view of Guyana has evolved into more than just a home; it is a place where meaningful careers, innovation, and nation-building can happen simultaneously.
For our future, we are called upon to remember the challenges of the pre-independence period, those of the years of democratic decline from 1964 to 1992, and the March 2020 effort to undermine the will of the Guyanese people.
OUR STRUGGLE
Colonialism was not benign. Freedom was won only because ordinary people demanded it.
Sacrifice and struggle are synonymous with independence struggles the world over. Colonialism thrived on division. Across the world, colonial powers maintained control by dividing people along lines of race, class, and politics, ensuring that those they governed remained suspicious of one another, rather than united in a common purpose. Guyana was no exception.
However, despite those divisions, the struggle for independence was built on a deeper truth – that the people of Guyana shared more in common than the forces that sought to divide them. They were, above all, children of the same soil.
Independence did not come easily, nor was it generously bestowed by the British Empire. Like every nation that fought to free itself from colonial rule, Guyana had to struggle, organise, and sacrifice.
The march toward independence gained strength with the rise of the organised trade union movement and the formation of the Political Affairs Committee (PAC) in 1946 under the leadership of Dr Cheddi Jagan. These efforts laid the foundation for the creation of the People’s Progressive Party (PPP), which became a powerful force in the fight for self-government and social justice. Dr Cheddi Jagan and the other leaders of the 1950 movement sought to transform the lives of ordinary Guyanese through progressive policies aimed at equality and national development. But those ambitions alarmed external powers. As Guyana moved closer to true freedom, foreign interference intensified. The turbulence and violence of the 1960s did not emerge naturally from the Guyanese people alone. They were fuelled by outside forces determined to prevent independence from empowering the population.
Colonialism left behind not only political conflict, but deep social wounds. The scars of that era remain visible even today. Race riots, political unrest, and decades of mistrust planted suspicions that lingered across generations, undermining national unity and social cohesion. The divisions created during colonial rule harmed the country long after independence was achieved.
Nonetheless, Guyana’s history also carries lessons of resilience. The struggle for independence, therefore, was not only about ending British rule. It was about reclaiming unity, dignity, and the Guyanese people’s right to shape their own future. In the People’s Progressive Party, central to fulfilling the promise of Guyana has been, and remains, addressing the basic needs of Guyanese across the country, creating opportunities for wealth creation, strengthening democratic institutions, and ensuring that progress reaches every community across the country.
LOSS OF FREEDOM AND THE LACK OF DEMOCRACY
Although Guyana gained independence in 1966 with great promise and hope for prosperity, powerful forces had already engineered undemocratic rule beginning in 1964, denying the Guyanese people the full benefits of independence and steering the country into nearly three decades of democratic struggle and economic decline, during which Guyana became one of the poorest nations in Latin America and the Caribbean.
From 1964 to 1992, Guyana endured 28 years of authoritarian rule marked by rigged elections in 1968, 1973, 1980 and 1985, as well as the 1978 referendum. The period was marred by political violence, repression, and widespread violations of human rights, with Guyana’s first free and fair elections only being held in 1992. The years leading up to and during People’s National Congress (PNC) rule saw ethnic discrimination, suppression of dissent, and attacks on opposition forces. Critics of the government faced intimidation, violence, and extra-judicial actions. Opposition meetings were violently disrupted, and unions and civil society groups that resisted party control were ruthlessly attacked under the doctrine of party paramountcy, which placed the then-ruling party above national institutions and freedoms.
By 1992, Guyana was in deep crisis. External debt had risen to more than 900 per cent of GDP, while debt servicing consumed 153 per cent of government revenue. By 1990, 87 per cent of the population lived below the poverty line, and the 1989 McIntyre Report ranked Guyana below Haiti as the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere. The report, led by former
Caribbean Community Secretary General Alister McIntyre, found that economic decline, state control of the economy, and the suppression of private enterprise had triggered a mass exodus
of talent. Hunger, malnutrition, homelessness, and widespread hardship had become part of daily life, with many citizens spending much of their time simply searching for food. By the late 1980s, the crisis reached a breaking point as unsustainable borrowing pushed foreign debt to US$1.7 billion, nearly six times the country’s GDP, while arrears climbed to US$1 billion. To keep a bankrupt country afloat, the government had to turn to the IMF for support in 1988.
The task of rebuilding from the ground up in 1992 was no easy task. However, these challenges have inspired the vision being implemented for our future – a future that the People’s Progressive Party, guided by its leaders, has struggled to deliver to our people from 1992 to 2015 and from 2020 to the present.
REBUILDING
This vision was grounded in the belief that democracy means empowering the people; ensuring their involvement at all levels in management and decision-making; and building a country where our people are allowed to build their own future.
Importantly, progress does not happen by chance. Transformation is achieved through careful planning, disciplined leadership, and a clear commitment to where we want our country to be, not only today, but decades from now.
Consequently, the People’s Progressive Party’s vision for Guyana is not built for a single moment, a single election cycle, or a temporary gain. It is a vision rooted in long-term planning, national development, and the future prosperity of every Guyanese family. This is evidenced in the National Development Strategy (NDS), a comprehensive 7-volume document produced in the late 1990s and early 2000s; the Poverty Reduction Strategy Papers (PRSP) in 2001 and 2006; the National Competitiveness Strategy (NCS) of Guyana; the Low Carbon Development Strategy (LCDS), introduced in 2009; and the updated LCDS 2030 launched in 2022.
Our Party has always believed that governance must be guided by the future we want to create for our people. That is why our plans are designed not merely to address present challenges, but to lay the foundation for generations to come.
Over the next five years, the PPP/C remains committed to moving Guyana forward through a comprehensive programme focused on building wealth, transforming lives, and uniting our nation. We are investing in people because we understand that the strength of our country lies in the opportunities we create for every citizen. In education, we are committed to ensuring free education at every level, modernising our schools, expanding digital learning and Artificial Intelligence initiatives, increasing grants for students, and strengthening technical and vocational training so that our young people are equipped for the industries of the future. In healthcare, we are transforming access to quality care across Guyana by operationalising 12 new state-of-the-art hospitals, expanding telemedicine services, and recruiting and training more healthcare professionals to serve our communities. Our economic vision is equally ambitious and forward-looking. We are advancing policies that will create jobs, expand opportunities, and strengthen national prosperity. Efforts are underway to establish a Development Bank to support small and medium-sized businesses, open up 100,000 acres of arable land for cultivation, improve farm-to-market roads, and continue supporting agriculture, mining, forestry, manufacturing, and the services sector. At the same time, the PPP/C is working to build the infrastructure necessary for a modern and competitive Guyana. Through transformative projects such as the Gas-to-Energy initiative, we are working to deliver
affordable electricity, improve transportation and connectivity, and upgrade communities with better drainage, sanitation, street lighting, recreational facilities, and enhanced security systems. The PPP/C also recognises that development must be accompanied by safety, accountability, and strong governance. That is why we are strengthening border protection, expanding community policing, introducing modern surveillance technology, and ensuring greater accountability. As Guyana advances, we are also building an inclusive digital society. Through the introduction of a national e-ID system, expanded digital government services, technology training programmes, and investments in innovation and technology hubs, we are preparing our people to compete and succeed in a rapidly changing world. Most importantly, our development agenda is centred on improving the lives of ordinary Guyanese. The PPP/C is expanding opportunities for youth, women, persons with disabilities, senior citizens, and Amerindian communities through investments in education, entrepreneurship, housing, healthcare, ICT access, land titling, and economic empowerment. These are only some elements of our transformational development agenda.
We are planning not only for the present, but for the Guyana our children and grandchildren will inherit. We are building a stronger economy, a more united society, and a modern nation where every Guyanese has the opportunity to succeed.
LOOKING AHEAD
As we honour 60 years of Independence, we pay tribute to all those who fought tirelessly for self-governance, democracy, and national development. Their sacrifices laid the foundation for the progress we enjoy today, and their legacy must continue to inspire patriotism, unity, and service to the country.
The vision born of our history demands our collective will and unwavering commitment to the task of nation-building. More profoundly, it serves as a warning against populist ideals that distract and derail us from the work at hand, while reminding us to remain vigilant against those who seek to divide our people, distort the truth, and mislead Guyanese in pursuit of narrow self-interest and personal gain.
We, as a people, must remain focused and steadfast as we move into the next phase of advancement and collective prosperity – a phase that demands we also heed the lessons of our history.
Looking ahead, we are reminded of the poignant words of Dr Cheddi Jagan, on May 26, 1993, who said: “Freedom is indivisible; and unity and solidarity are essential for success. There can be no advance without struggle, and there can be no struggle without commitment and sacrifice.”
The PPP remains steadfast in its commitment to building a modern, prosperous, and inclusive Guyana where every citizen, regardless of background, has the opportunity to succeed and enjoy a better quality of life. We firmly believe that the wealth of our nation must benefit all our people and future generations.
At the same time, we remain resolute in defending Guyana’s territorial integrity and sovereignty. On this important national occasion, we once again reaffirm that every square inch of Guyana belongs to the people of Guyana.
On the occasion of 60 years of Independence, the People’s Progressive Party extends warm greetings and best wishes to all Guyanese at home and throughout the diaspora. This Diamond Jubilee is a proud milestone in our nation’s history and a moment for reflection on the struggles, sacrifices, and achievements that have shaped the Guyana we know today.
Happy 60th Independence Anniversary, Guyana.
