Jagdeo: PPP’s plans put more money in the hands of the poor, children and pensioners

The People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) says its vision for the future will place greater focus on helping those in poverty and people in difficult circumstances, with billions of dollars set to flow directly to pensioners, children and persons receiving public assistance.

General Secretary of the party and the country’s Vice President Dr. Bharrat Jagdeo, speaking this week about the party’s newly launched manifesto, said a central feature of the plan is ensuring that more Guyanese benefit directly from the state’s resources.

“Pensioners will move up to a minimum of $60,000 per month. Students will continue to receive education grants. Public assistance will be increased. That amounts to about $100 billion a year going straight to children, pensioners and people on public assistance,” Jagdeo declared.

The manifesto was unveiled by President Dr. Irfaan Ali earlier this week at the Pegasus Hotel in Georgetown. Jagdeo noted that the entire country has been aware of the PPP/C’s long-term strategy, pointing to years of detailed documents already published on infrastructure, education, healthcare, agriculture diversification, and oil and gas expansion.

“This is qualitatively different from any other party. Their manifestos are vague, full of declarations of intent, and not grounded in economic analysis,” Jagdeo said.

THREE MAIN PILLARS

Outlining the PPP/C’s priorities for the next term in office, Jagdeo grouped the party’s vision under three broad headings.

Transformation of society

He said the party will modernise Guyana into a more competent and efficient society where citizens can access government services more easily and do business faster.

“Digital society, diversified economy, biotech development, using AI, smart grid electricity—big transformative things will happen in the next five years,” he promised.

Community-level investment

Jagdeo said while the national economy is booming, people want to see changes directly in their neighbourhoods. The PPP/C plans to intensify spending in communities, with investments in concrete drains, streetlights, CCTV cameras, derelict removal, and other local infrastructure.

Growth of the individual

The Vice President said citizens must benefit personally from economic growth.

“We want people to earn more and keep more. That’s why we’re lowering taxes and introducing no new taxes,” he stressed.

On housing, he said the PPP/C intends to deliver 40,000 homes over the next five years—about 8,000 per year—backed by grants for home improvements and subsidies on steel and cement.

Jagdeo emphasised that the PPP/C’s plan is not just about physical development but about improving lives at every level.

“You will see a major part of society modernising before our eyes, communities changing across the country, and people in poverty or more difficult circumstances getting more help from the state,” he said.

The PPP/C also pledges to strengthen human rights protections, prevent discrimination, and ensure transparency in public procurement. According to Jagdeo, breaking up large contracts into smaller ones has already opened opportunities for thousands of small contractors nationwide, a model that will be expanded.

Other measures include more loans for small businesses, stronger anti-corruption mechanisms, a special unit to fight graft, and greater accountability across the justice and security sectors.

Jagdeo said these commitments are already resonating with people during the party’s house-to-house engagements.

“People are pleased with what’s happening in education, health and infrastructure. But they also want things like streetlights and clean drains. We will tackle these issues head-on,” he assured.