Guyana Rising: The choice to build or backslide

In this defining moment of Guyana’s history, we stand not at a crossroads but at a launching pad. The past five years under President Irfaan Ali have ushered in a new era of infrastructure, health, education, and opportunity, reaching corners of the country long forgotten under previous administrations. And yet, there lingers a dangerous perception gap; a growing disconnect between the real and tangible progress on the ground and the outdated grievances that some continue to cling to.
This is not just a political phenomenon. Around the world, voters have repeatedly shown a tendency to ignore fact-based improvements in favour of populist promises. In the United States, entire communities that benefited from Democratic economic stimulus packages flipped to vote Republican out of cultural grievance. In the UK, even as regions gained from EU development funds, many backed Brexit out of perceived slights to sovereignty. And in Guyana today, some cling to discontent, ignoring what’s visibly changing before their eyes.
Just walk through any market or strike up a conversation in a minibus queue—you’ll hear it. The word on the street is that people see the roads being fixed, the new hospitals opening, the children getting their cash grant back, and even meals at school. They’re talking about how life is changing. Slowly? Yes. But surely.
Under President Ali, Region 1 has seen an astronomical leap in education investment—from G$54 million under APNU to over G$7 billion under the PPP. Schools have been rebuilt, teachers trained, and dormitories constructed to ensure that hinterland children aren’t left behind. In Region 7, health sector investments exploded from G$373 million to nearly G$2 billion. Clinics have been upgraded, new facilities are underway, and lives are being saved.
The numbers are staggering. In Region 3 alone, housing investment increased by more than 700%. In Region 8, education spending quadrupled. And across Regions 5 and 6, public works have brought reliable water, new roads, bridges, and electricity to thousands. These are not abstract budget lines—they are real outcomes. They are the difference between children walking miles to school or having a classroom nearby. Between a farmer getting crops to market or being cut off by a washed-out road. Between a mother giving birth in a well-lit, well-equipped facility or risking it all in a wooden shack.
And what of the future? Thanks to the Natural Resource Fund—established by the PPP and governed by a transparent, legal framework—Guyana is not only growing, it’s saving. The oil revenues are being invested with care: in hospitals, schools, salaries, and strategic infrastructure that future-proofs our economy. Unlike petrostates of the past, this government is not squandering the oil boom—it’s building with it.
Still, perception persists. Why? Because the loudest voices in opposition offer style over substance. They speak of “transformation” but cannot say how. One man, Mohammed, flies around Guyana in a Santa suit of populist promises while evading taxes and undermining institutions. Another hides behind platitudes, unable to name a policy that improves people’s lives. Their personal brands may be flashy, but their records are empty.
The youth of this country—our next generation—must be reminded of just how bright their future can be. Their grandparents and parents endured far harder times so that they wouldn’t have to. They built this country with their hands and their hopes. And now, thanks to President Ali’s leadership, young Guyanese no longer have to dream of Canada, America, or the UK to build a future. They can build a successful life right here, at home. That is priceless.
But with this opportunity comes responsibility. We cannot become a nation that complains and waits for a cheque. That would be lazy and rob us of our dignity. Oil revenues can uplift us—but only if we meet that gift with hard work. Like President Kennedy said, “Ask not what your country can do for you—ask what you can do for your country.” Guyana doesn’t owe us ease; it demands effort. And it will reward it.
What’s clear on the ground is that President Ali is seen not just as a party figurehead but as a problem solver. As the man who, during a global pandemic and war-induced inflation, still delivered housing, jobs, and bonuses to nurses and teachers. The government doesn’t need to reinvent the wheel—it needs to show Guyanese what’s already working. And it must do so with clarity, hope, and optimism.
Crime and cost of living are real concerns. But the answer is not to gamble on the unknown. It’s to double down on what works. Under Ali, police reform is ongoing, more officers have been trained, community policing has been strengthened, and investments in safety continue. And to combat rising prices, his administration has introduced subsidies, expanded school feeding programmes and distributed direct cash transfers—programmes that have a real impact for real families.
And we are not just about oil. Guyana is blessed with one of the richest rainforests in the world, and we are protecting it, not just for ourselves, but for the planet. The world is watching us in awe. And in agriculture, we are the only country in the world that is fully self-sufficient in food. Think about that. While others depend on imports and international supply chains, Guyanese farmers feed our people. That’s not just resilience—that’s excellence.
We are a diverse people, racially and culturally. And yet, we remain stable and harmonious. In a world torn by division, that is something to be proud of. Let no one tell us otherwise. We are also a real democracy—where voices are heard, and votes count. Where peaceful transitions and civil discourse are the rule, not the exception.
The message going into the next election should be simple: We are not perfect, but we are delivering. We are not finished, but we are building. And above all, we are moving forward, not back. Let’s not fall for billionaires who claim to be “change makers” while dodging the very taxes that fund our roads and schools. Let’s not be fooled by those who sow resentment while offering no plan. Let’s remember: sunshine is not just weather—it is a mindset. A patriotic belief that we can keep building, together.
In 1984, Ronald Reagan won a landslide with the promise that “It’s morning again in America.” It wasn’t about ideology—it was about optimism. In 2025, Guyana needs its own version of that. Because when you look around this country, from Mabaruma to Lethem, from Bartica to Berbice, the morning light is already shining.
We just need to open our eyes.