President urges robust debate, says next five years will be transformative

President Irfaan Ali on Monday urged Guyana’s new Parliament to engage in robust, fact-based debates as his government moves into what he described as a “very transformative” five-year period focused on infrastructure, economic growth and national development.

“Parliament plays that integral role in any democratic society. It is where policies are tested, where debates and national development take place, and where the representation of the people is given full meaning,” Ali said as he congratulated members of the new sitting which got down to work today.

Ali said the coming years would be “very transformative” and “very aggressive,” with massive infrastructure investment aimed at expanding the economy, opening new opportunities and advancing sustainable development.

He said the government’s action plan will set out programmes to increase disposable income, empower people, build prosperity, expand housing, improve water supply, give world-class health care and education services, create new employment and generate new industries.

Ali added that digitalisation and innovation will be central to the country’s growth strategy, describing the administration’s goal as building “a country that is competitive, one that is moving ahead on a technological footing.”

He said Guyana aims to position itself as “an eco-tourism hub, leading on food, energy and climate,” with a parliamentary agenda driven by “creative, innovative, visionary” policies that are “bold and aggressive” in pursuit of national prosperity.