PPP unveils cost of living plan for Region One; road toll to be abolished

Last Updated on Sunday, 3 August 2025, 10:51 by Writer

Incumbent People’s Progressive Party Civic (PPPC) presidential candidate Irfaan Ali on Saturday announced that, once elected in next month’s general and regional elections, his administration would implement a plan to reduce the cost of living.

He told an election campaign meeting in Port Kaituma in Region One (Barima-Waini) that the plan includes increasing food production and storage in the region. “We want to empower your community so that we can reduce the need for bringing in goods and services by investing in food security, investing in agriculture, investing in livestock and investing in cold storage facilities so that you can grow your own food, that you can have your own food right here in the Region, removing that transport cost,” he said.

The main opposition A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) has also promised to increase food production in all ten administrative regions as one of a number of measures to reduce the cost of living.

President Ali said Region One would be connected to a new port facility at Charity in Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam). As part of plans to make Region One and Pomeroon the coffee and cocoa capital of the Caribbean, he said his government would be providing tools and planting materials to farmers. “We are going to back you to build back this industry in a better, bigger and brighter way under the People’s Progressive Party,” he said.

As an immediate step to ease the financial burden on residents in Port Kaituma, Dr Ali said they would now pay 30 percent less for electricity with effect from August 1, 2025 on top of the current GY$110 million subsidy for power generation. “We will do it by increasing the subsidy on your behalf here in Port Kaituma,” he said. That would be in addition to the 15 kilowatt free electricity, he said.

Another measure, he said, would be the abolition of tolls on the Four Mile Road for small loggers and small miners from November 1. 2025. The President asked that that measure be passed on to consumers. “We want that cost, that reduction to be to the benefit of the consumer,” he said.

Additionally, he said children would be provided transportation and nutritional food. He said his government would invest in systems to train students to become teachers, engineers, doctors and economists “right here in your region.”

He said “I can assure you” that over the next five years, residents of “every village” in the Matarkai (Matthews Ridge/Arakaka /Kaitutma) sub-region would receive high-quality water, health and education.

In the area of housing, the President said a new housing scheme would be developed and the government would fund the development of other privately-owned homes. “We are going to assist every family in every village to build your home, to improve your home by directly transferring resources to you to improve your home,” he said.

The President said other plans include the direct transfer of grants to families to fund small business development and infrastructure such as roads.