Dr Jagdeo: Further cuts in cost of living, more jobs if re-elected

Vice President and General Secretary of the ruling People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C), Dr Bharrat Jagdeo, said today that the party will focus on further reducing the cost of living and creating more jobs if it wins another term in office.

Addressing a crowd of more than 25,000 people at a rally in Albion, Region Six, Dr Jagdeo said the government has already implemented several measures to ease household expenses and pledged to do more.

“We will continue to work to ensure that the cost of living comes down for everyone,” he said, citing subsidies on electricity, fuel, water, transportation and mortgages. “Next year, you’re going to get your electricity bill cut by 50 per cent.”

Dr Jagdeo also said the government would expand employment opportunities across the country, particularly in rural areas like Berbice.

“In the next term… we have to ensure they get more jobs—better-paying jobs,” he said.

He noted that thousands of sugar workers sacked under the former APNU+AFC government have already been rehired under the PPP/C administration and said the country is now facing labour shortages due to job growth. He pointed to 4,500 part-time workers in Region Six as beneficiaries of the government’s approach.

Dr Jagdeo outlined additional development projects already underway or planned, including a four-lane highway from Moleson Creek to New Amsterdam, a toll-free high-span bridge across the Berbice River, and two new regional hospitals. One of them, in New Amsterdam, is valued at US$160 million.

Other areas of development in a new term include improvements such as village street lighting, security cameras, concrete drainage, and solid waste management, along with increased access to small business loans.

Dr Jagdeo warned that these gains are at risk if the opposition A Partnership for National Unity returns to government.

“The day APNU wins the election, you lose your jobs,” he said, referencing the opposition’s stance on part-time workers.

Dr Jagdeo also accused the opposition of having a deep prejudice towards Berbice and pledging to shut down the sugar industry again.

He criticised APNU+AFC for failing to support rice farmers and honouring previous promises to pensioners and schoolchildren.

The PPP/C General Secretary said the party’s consistency and track record give it credibility going into the next elections.

“Our party has grown because it is a trustworthy party. It does what it says,” he said, adding: “We have clear plans for the whole future.”