Dear Editor,
The calculating PPP/C Government has let the cat out of the bag by announcing September 1st 2025 to be E- day. It comes at a celebrated time when the PPP/C is riding high on cloud nine after making hay while the sun was shining. They have hit the ground running from day one in August’ 2020 to clean up their predecessor’s mess and have done their homework by planning and providing for all six races in all ten regions (even Region 11), equally and equitably, regardless of race, religion, political persuasion, gender or age. The Government has introduced a bigger, better and bolder budget each year, as they explore uncharted water, creating rippling effects and setting unprecedented standards. Budget 2025 is huge: G$1.38 trillion (US$6.63 Billion), representing a 20.6 % increase over 2024 and 3.4 times as large as 2021, when the PPP/C took full control of the budget.
Guyana’s economic incline plane remains unparalleled with an IMF’s projected 2025 GDP real growth rate of 10.3%, representing the fastest growing economy in the world. Its real non-oil growth is projected at 13%, reflecting a no Dutch Disease Syndrome. Under an astute financial management programme, the PPP/C Government has recorded an average 47% real GDP growth (2022-2024). The fiscal deficit is projected to contract by 15.6 % from 2024. The oil industry is expected to yield US$2.5 Billion this year, most of which will be spent. According to a press release from last month, Director of IMF Western Hemisphere Department, Dr. Rodrigo Valdes was in high praise for the PPP/C government saying, “We’re seeing a very good management in Guyana. Now, Suriname has to establish the framework for this to work well for them.”
As all eyes are again focused on Guyana’s territorial dispute with neighbouring Venezuela, Guyana is set to assume the Presidency of the United Nations Security council for the month of June 2025. Venezuela’s President Nicholas Maduro is regarded as the belly of the beast in the Southern Hemisphere as over six million of its citizens migrated out of the country due to poverty, hardship, food shortage, unemployment and fear for their lives. Ironically, those very reasons are driving Venezuelans to seek solace under the PPP/C Government’s wings in Guyana.
On the other side of the coin, a distraught Opposition has been caught napping with their pants down, as they horrifyingly heard the disturbed news of September 1st being Election Day. They were gambling on a November date so that they can put their house in order. The PNC is in a disarray, divided by dissent. The PNC collating with a five – man WPA Party and other one member parties, is meaningless. No one will listen to a Brutus type backstabber. The WPA’s fingers are draped in Rodney’s blood. One man party commands no influence and will not attract voters.
The PNC’s election campaign machinery is non-functional. They are yet to formulate a slogan, an agenda, literature, materials, flags and other paraphernalia. The question of finance cannot be ruled out. July 20th will be nomination day. The PNC is dazed and undecided. They are yet to find a running mate and to finalize a who’s who for ministerial and parliamentary positions. The parting of the “red sea” adds no comfort or solace to them, rather, it harbors a sense of insecurity and uncertainty. The 2023 Local government election is a sad reminder of the PNC’s lousy performance and their inability to contest all the constituencies. The PPP/C gained a walk over in 291 constituencies out of the 610 due to the Opposition’s failure to field any contestants!
Meanwhile, PNC members are crossing the floor to join the PPP/C and to back President Ali. Young voters are persuaded by results, actions and a fool-proof manifesto. Only the PPP/C Party provides and perfects such a reality. Guyanese can no longer be fooled with honey, sweet talk and empty promises as adumbrated by the Opposition. Guyanese refuse to be brainwashed by PNC’s propaganda and have long drawn the line of demarcation between truth and lies. Undoubtedly, a few die-hards will remain out of loyalty only and not conviction. What is globally glaring is the PNC’s track record of thirty-three years of disaster as they ruined the lives of Guyanese by destabilizing the economy of this country.
The AFC have decided to walk the plank without the PNC. Battered, bruised and bitten by controversies, contradictories and peculiarities, that party is still in the market for alliances. But they will always be remembered as the party who sold out the sugar workers, betrayed their trust and put some 7,000 breadwinners on the line. Over 40,000 were directly affected. A Party with a Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde face is not what Guyanese deserve. The new kid on the block is full of inexperience from lack of exposure about the running of a government. Looking next door across at Maduro, tells a sad tale. Apart from his heavy baggage and dark clouds as his shadow, Guyanese learnt a bitter lesson from the US sanctions from the 2020 Elections! Will there be a media mogul to form a perfect storm in a teacup? The night is young and promises potential surprises. But, at the end of the day, it is only the PPP/C that is ready, willing and capable of going into an election battle.
Sincerely,
Jai Lall
