“Desperation will force them together” – Jagdeo on Opposition coalition

… dismisses them as “recycling of failures and novices”

… highlights lack of competence in PPP’s electoral competitors

General Secretary of the People’s Progressive Party Civic (PPP/C), Dr Bharrat Jagdeo, has derided the ongoing coalition talks among opposition forces, arguing that the discussions are driven by desperation and political self-preservation, not vision or competence.

In a searing critique, Jagdeo noted that the parties currently attempting to regroup, mainly the Peoples National Congress (PNC)-led A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) and Alliance for Change (AFC), who he noted were part of a “failed experiment” in governance between 2015 and 2020.
With this in mind, the General Secretary strongly criticised the coalition for its track record of economic mismanagement, divisive politics, and efforts to erode democratic institutions, warning that a return to power could see a dangerous repeat of these failures.

“So, what we’ve seen now with the recent configurations in the last couple of days is a recycling of the same people within the same coalition… So, they are not making any difference. Any configuration that they come up with and desperation might force them together. They will give up on principles. They would give up on their own position, which says Norton can be the candidate because he’d lose the elections. But AFC will go into the coalition if offered a space, knowing that they themselves said that,” Jagdeo said.
On Wednesday, it was announced that members of the Alliance for Change (AFC) Juretha Fernandes, Sherod Duncan and Ricky Ramsaroop have signed onto the list of candidates for the A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) to contest the upcoming elections, with Fernandes tipped to be the prime ministerial candidate.
In offering comments on the swap, Jagdeo explained that many former APNU-AFC supporters have also shifted allegiance to the PPP/C, citing the party’s development record and people-centred governance.
“It’s the same group. They’re just going to create a new party, switching sides every day within their own camp. And their camp is a camp that delivered five years of disastrous performance for the country.”
“So, they can put together any configuration. We are ready in the PPP, not because of arrogance, but because people have seen them and discarded them,” he added.

Lack of competence
In addition to lacking any plans of substance for the development of the country and its people, the General Secretary has pointed out that the so-far named competitors for the upcoming elections also lack competence and experience in governance and leadership.
Highlighting the knowledge of the PPP’s Presidential Candidate, Dr Irfaan Ali, as not only President but also a Minister of Government pre-2015, Jagdeo recalled, “He had several portfolios: housing – in a period when we had one of the largest expansions in the housing programme, he was Minister of Tourism at the same time and the water sector.”
By extension, Ali was involved in Cabinet meetings where he contributed to discussions on various topics and represented Guyana on several international platforms during his presidency, Jagdeo said.
He also spoke of the portfolio of Prime Minister Mark Phillips, who was the head of the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) and commanded the respect of his ranks. Jagdeo also reflected on Phillips’ tenure as Prime Minister and the critical sectors he oversees, including ICT.
In comparison, the PPP General Secretary referred to Leader of the Peoples National Congress (PNC)-led A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) Presidential Candidate Aubrey Norton as “a little league”, who operated around the periphery of the party structure both in government and at the party level. During his party’s tenure in Government (2015-2020), Norton served as an Advisor to the Government.
Meanwhile, Member of Parliament Juretha Fernandes, who is touted to be his running mate, was the Confidential Secretary to the former Prime Minister up to 2020.
“No management skill… that’s the leadership of their ticket now, two persons who are charlatans, novices, who have never really negotiated a loan; they have never engaged in politics even at a major level,” Jagdeo said, adding that even the APNU’s support team also has no years of technical experience.
He noted that the Alliance for Change (AFC) leader and potential presidential candidate Nigel Hughes is now pleading for a space with the APNU coalition.
Switching his attention to former PNC Member Amanza Walton-Desir, who this week resigned from the PNC to form a new party – Forward Guyana – worked at the Guyana Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) from 2013 to 2020 before becoming a Member of Parliament.
Jagdeo also reminded of her track record of racist utterances.
Meanwhile, other small parties, including the A New and United Guyana (ANUG) and Vigilant Political Action Committee (VPAC), were not spared in the assessment.
Jagdeo noted that the leader of ANUG, Mark France, failed to garner more than three votes in his hometown of New Amsterdam during the last Local Government Elections while VPAC’s Dorwain Bess was made famous by a fuel scandal under the last APNU+AFC Government.

Guyana travel packages
With regards to United States-sanctioned businessman Azruddin Mohamed, who launched his political party called “We Invest in Nationhood”, Jagdeo said the only competency he possesses is in “smuggling gold and submitting false invoices”.
He was referring to US sanctions instituted against Mohamed for gold smuggling and the ongoing issue between the businessman and the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) surrounding evaded taxes.
“You just contrast that and think about entrusting the future of Guyana at this time in the hands of that group versus an Irfaan Ali-Mark Phillips ticket supported by a party that has kept his promise to the people,” Jagdeo emphasised.
The PPP General Secretary also highlighted that his party has outlined several plans for its second term in office, while the other parties have not even decided on their platforms.
Political parties desirous of contesting the September 1 General and Regional Elections are required to submit their names and symbols to the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) on June 22, followed by their List of Candidates on July 14.