Former Bartica Mayor throws support behind Irfaan Ali-led PPP for second term

Former Mayor of Bartica, Gifford Marshall, has publicly declared his support for President Irfaan Ali and the governing People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) for a second term in office.
Marshall had previously served consecutive terms as Bartica Mayor under the APNU+AFC (A Partnership for National Unity+Alliance for Change) Coalition regime. In a post on his Facebook on Saturday, the 44-year-old reflected on his personal journey and Guyana’s remarkable transformation, which he says requires leaders that can adapt to the changing times to continue the country’s global success story.

“Earlier this year, I had the privilege of speaking with President Ali at length. What struck me most was his genuine passion for fostering unity among all Guyanese, his commitment to religious tolerance, and his ambitious vision for infrastructure development. His dynamic energy, deep love for our country, and pragmatic approach to governance are truly commendable qualities,” Marshall stated.
The former mayor believes Guyana needs leadership that can harness its tremendous potential while navigating the complexities of a rapidly changing world. According to Marshall, President Ali has consistently demonstrated the vision and dedication required to guide Guyana through this crucial period in its history.
“I am convinced that given our nation’s bright future and the opportunities before us, he is uniquely qualified and prepared to lead our beautiful country for the next five years. His distinguished record of public service stands as a testament to his capabilities. I applaud his achievements during his tenure and extend my best wishes for continued success in the 2025 elections and beyond. Therefore, I endorse President Dr Mohamed Irfaan Ali for a second term as President of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana,” he stated.
Marshall’s endorsement of President Ali and the PPP is seen as crucial, especially as Bartica is traditionally seen as a People National Congress (PNC) – the leading party in the APNU faction – stronghold.
In fact, apart from 2023, the township had voted solidly for the APNU+AFC coalition at previous local Government elections during Marshall’s tenure in office.
At the last local Government elections, held in June 2023, the PPP won the majority of the votes in the Region Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni) town, securing 1784 votes against APNU’s 1,601 votes. The PPP also controls the Bartica Town Council.
Nevertheless, Marshall’s endorsement comes on the heels of the Ali-led PPP Administration also receiving support from key stakeholders of Linden, Region 10 (Upper Demerara-Upper Berbice) – another stronghold of the PNC-led APNU, which has since severed coalition ties with the AFC.
On Friday, Chairperson of the Linden Agriculture & Forest Producers Co-op Society, Lynette Benn, placed her support behind President Ali for a second term in office.
In a statement on Friday, Benn said this endorsement comes in the wake of the significant interventions made in the forestry sector by the Ali-led Government. She pointed out that under the previous Administration, the forestry sector was in a decline due to the poor policies that were introduced to this sector – all of which were reversed in the last five years, resulting in the forestry sector seeing tremendous growth.
“President Ali’s endorsement for a second term is significantly influenced by his administration’s proactive approach to the forestry sector. These initiatives foster economic development and community engagement and have created a pathway towards a brighter future for the forestry sector,” Benn stated.
These endorsements from known strongholds of the APNU come as the opposition party’s support base continues to dwindle, with several of its senior members breaking ties – many leaving to join the PPP.
Among those crossovers are former Member of Parliament and PNC General Secretary Geeta Chandan-Edmond; former PNC Executive James Bond; Regional Chairman and Vice Chairman for Region Four Daniel Seeram and Samuel Sandy; and Dr Richard Van-West Charles, who is the son-in-law of former President and founder of the PNC, Linden Forbes Sampson Burnham. Moreover, former Minister of Indigenous Peoples’ Affairs and Vice-President under the coalition Government, Sydney Allicock, has also declared his allegiance to the PPP.