The ruling People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) has pledged significant investment in the arts and culture sector if re-elected, saying it would strengthen national identity and expand the country’s tourism industry.
Speaking on the party’s recently released manifesto, President Dr. Irfaan Ali said the PPP/C’s “Vision 2030” plan includes heavy spending on Guyanese writers, poets, fashion designers and other creatives.
“Every single one in the arts, whether you are a writer, a poet, in the fashion industry; we are going to invest a lot of money to support our young people, support the arts… and to make that part of our national identity; to create avenues to which these skills can be developed, upscaled, harnessed and (provide) economic empowerment, bringing in that market opportunity for all of them,” he said.
Ali said the PPP/C’s strategy aims not only to preserve the sector but also to make it marketable and revenue-generating, allowing it to contribute to Guyana’s wider economic transformation.
The manifesto also proposes the construction of a modern indoor entertainment facility to host international events and showcase local talent.
“There we could host international events where our local talents can have exposure. Our local talents could find a stage with international talents so that they have exposure and they benefit from pass on and knock on events,” Ali said.
He said the government would also consider policies such as creating music and dance studios in every region, literacy clubs for performers, and expanding arts education in schools. Such measures would support tourism and revive what he called “sleeping aspects” of Guyana’s national identity.
