Former Opposition members backing PPP to help build Guyana – Jagdeo

…as APNU/AFC Region 5 Councillor endorses Pres Ali’s 2nd term

Ahead of the 2025 General Elections another member of the Opposition has endorsed President Dr Irfaan Ali’s re-election.
Regional Democratic Councillor for Region Five (Mahaica-Berbice), Ismail Muhammad-Al-Cush has publicly endorsed President Dr Irfaan Ali and the governing People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C).
Muhammad-Al-Cush, who is also the Imam and Mujtahid of the Number 3 Masjid, on the West Coast of Berbice and formerly served as Imam of the Rosignol Masjid, West Bank Berbice, issued a formal statement announcing his departure from the Alliance For Change (AFC).
“I have honourably detached myself from the AFC in order to preserve my dignity and integrity as a result of internal rambling,” he said.
He emphasised that during his tenure as Councillor, he never walked out of any meetings when asked, but remained to engage and debate issues fully, representing the interests of all citizens in Region Five regardless of political affiliation.
Muhammad-Al-Cush expressed satisfaction with the developmental progress he has observed in the region and across the country under the PPP/C Administration. “I was privileged not only to see and witness the changes and transformation…but was and is part of the transition,” he stated.
On these grounds, he endorsed President Ali, Prime Minister Mark Phillips, Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo, and their team for a second term in office. “Let’s trust the process and unite unconditionally for E-Day 2025 and onwards by voting for the PPP/C for a better/good life in this region and country at large,” he said.

Progress
Meanwhile, People’s Progressive Party General Secretary Bharrat Jagdeo has made it clear that a number of persons in the Opposition camp who have endorsed the Party have expressed an interest in working to help develop Guyana.
He dismissed claims that these individuals were promised positions when the PPP wins the upcoming elections, noting that even the current ministers do not know if they will be returning to their offices after the September 1 polls.
“None who came to us has been offered anything,” Jagdeo explained, noting that unlike the Opposition political parties, the PPP does not spend time discussing ‘positions’ but rather, focuses its discourse on policies and strategies that can contribute to the development of the country.
According to Jagdeo, the persons who have come forward to endorse President Ali and PPP for a second term are witnessing the transformation of the country and want to contribute to this process.
He said they were not just endorsing President Ali and the PPP, but were endorsing a national plan that aims to ensure every citizen progresses and the country becomes more united.
Among those persons who have recently come forward to endorse the PPP are former People’s National Congress (PNC) General Secretary and Opposition Parliamentarian Geeta Chandan-Edmond; Alliance For Change (AFC) Regional Councillor Ismail Muhammad- Al-Cush, and Chairman of the Region Seven division of the AFC, David Daniels.
Additionally, Regional Vice Chairman for Region Four and member of the PNC, Samuel Sandy has endorsed the PPP. He joined Executive Member of the PNCR and Region Four Chairman Daniel Seeram, who also endorsed President Ali for a second term.
Former PNCR Central Executive member, Dr Richard Van West-Charles said he believed that President Ali was the leader Guyana needed now. Dr Van West-Charles is the son-in-law of former President and founder of the PNC, Linden Forbes Sampson Burnham.
In April, former PNC member Thandi McAllister also threw her support behind the PPP/C.
In 2023, Lance Smith, former General Secretary of the Guyana Youth and Student Movement (GYSM), the youth arm of the PNCR, and former Georgetown Mayor and longstanding PNC member, Patricia Chase-Green broke ties with the PNC and joined the PPP/C to contest the Local Government Elections.
Additionally, leaders of smaller parties – The Citizenship Initiative (TCI) – Shaz Ally; The New Movement (TNM) Dr Asha Kissoon, and the Liberty and Justice Party (LJP) Lenox Shuman – have also joined the PPP/C ahead of the 2025 General and Regional Elections.