The 2025 elections are now in the record books. The Guyanese people were given their say; their voices were loudly and clearly expressed. Our democracy is alive and well and continues to flourish. Guyana had had a remarkable five years since August 2020, when a youthful Dr Irfaan Ali was sworn in as President. Now Guyana’s democracy has a chance to evolve further, growing, strengthening and maturing in ways that add to the glory of the Guyanese story. Sometime this week, given the resounding endorsement of the people, Dr Irfaan Ali will be sworn in to serve a second five-year term as President of Guyana. No matter which party or which candidate we voted for or wanted to win, we wish our second-term President God’s blessings and another successful term.
The people of Guyana deserve to be congratulated. Elections 2025 was in most ways a smooth operation, and we hope that in its immediate aftermath, political parties and leaders follow the example of the Guyanese people. GECOM must be congratulated for conducting Elections 2025 without too much drama. Ruminations congratulate the political parties for their spirited and often contentious campaigns but for managing to keep the pre- and post-election atmosphere peaceful. Once the atmosphere remains peaceful in the aftermath, all political parties deserve commendation.
Three parties clearly will constitute Parliament 13. While the other three parties clearly have not earned a place in Parliament 13, they were bold enough to place their names forward as candidates. Democracy is stronger when people are willing to seek people’s permission to serve. We thank them. It would be remiss on our part if we did not congratulate Azruddin Mohamed and his WIN party for the remarkable gains the party made in just three months. While we cannot be certain at the time of writing whether the main opposition party will be the PNC-led APNU or WIN, we know that no third political party ever has had the impact that Azruddin Mohamed and WIN have had in Elections 2025. Clearly, the PNC has to re-examine its politics and contemplate its future.
We congratulate Dr Irfaan Ali on earning his 2nd term as President. We congratulate Mark Philips, who will this week also be sworn in for his second term as Prime Minister. We expect Dr Bharat Jagdeo to be sworn in this week also as Vice President.
One would have to be living on Mars if we did not recognise that the Guyanese people raised their voices and have engineered the most dramatic shift, a cataclysmic shift, in our political journey. There are many reasons why the shifts that the people have mandated are dramatic and consequential. It is the first time in almost 70 years that the PNC will be forced into a supporting role in opposition politics. Whether Azruddin Mohamed and WIN become the major opposition party or not, it is expected that Parliament 13 will be characterised by the political acumen, the behaviour and the antics of Azruddin Mohamed and WIN. It will be an unfamiliar role for the PNC and its leader, Aubrey Norton.
For Guyana, Elections 2025 have both created an opportunity for political cooperation and working for the interest of the Guyanese people. On the other hand, the fact that Azruddin Mohamed is a leader of a political party with significant power in the Parliament raises concerns since he is under international sanction by the US Government. Several of his MPs will perhaps not have bank accounts in the country and will not be able to travel freely around the world because they might not have visas to travel through America. What this means for Guyana is a question which will be answered in time.
We cannot be naïve to the possibility that the opposition leader might be Azruddin Mohamed. If he assumes the role of opposition leader, this will not be the first time that a major political leader in the region will be functioning under sanction. Fidel Castro functioned in that capacity for decades. Nicolas Maduro of Venezuela is functioning in that role right now. Desi Bouterse of Suriname was President for almost ten years while under sanction. Whether he is opposition leader or not, Azruddin Mohamed will create uncomfortable moments for our democracy, our Parliament and our country.
Castro’s Cuba and the Cuban people suffered because of the embargo and the sanctions. Suriname never recovered, at least not as yet, from the downward spiral caused by the sanctions against Bouterse. Venezuela is reeling, and its citizens are engaged in an outward exodus because life has become unbearable due to the embargo and sanctions against Maduro. The people clearly have made a decision – American sanction or not, they want Azruddin Mohamed to play a role in the political future of Guyana. Whether the country is able to weather the storm or not, the leaders must ensure that any consequence or fallout from this decision of the people does not derail the remarkable development path Guyana has been on for the last five years.
The people have decided, and our Parliament and Government face uncharted waters. We must ensure that we honour the wishes of the people even as we navigate our way through stormy and tumultuous waters. While the dramatic shift in our politics has never been seen, it is not the first time our country will face uncertain times and a treacherous milieu. Whatever we do in this new environment, mandated by our people, we must not derail the development path we presently are fortunate to be on.
President Irfaan Ali is a visionary leader, as is the General Secretary of the PPP. We can be confident that they will ensure that the voices of the people, the decision they have made, will be honoured. It will be a tightrope and a thin line to walk, but we are confident that they will charter a way forward that will avoid any disastrous fallout from Azruddin Mohamed being elected by the people to play a major role in our Parliament. Let the voices of the people resonate.
