Home Letters The real outcome of the election campaign will be clear after real...
Dear Editor,
APNU has lost several key PNCR leaders, including Geeta Chandan Edmond, Dawn Hastings, Amanza Desir, Jermaine Figueira, Simona Broomes, and James Bond, and has side-lined senior politicians from the last APNU+AFC government.
The emergence of Azruddin Mohamed’s WIN party, which draws support mainly from APNU’s base, poses a new threat. While some people believe that WIN could revitalise third-party governance, others are unsure. However, both major parties, PPPC and APNU, recognise WIN’s potential influence on the electorate, given its financial appeal to voters.
APNU leader Mr Aubrey Norton downplays the impact of losing top PNCR members but expresses deep concern about WIN’s campaign approach. Notes Mr Norton: “Don’t be carried away by people robbing the economy and making fancy offers. Be sensible: if they are thieving out of government, what would happen when they get into government? Since when did the thief man change overnight?”
APNU is worried that WIN may achieve results similar to when AFC emerged on the political scene in 2006. As a new and third political force, AFC won five seats in 2006,mainly at the expense of PNCR, thus reducing its representation from 27 to 22 seats in Parliament. During the same period, PPPC increased its seats from 35 to 36.
WIN’s lack of credibility, citing lack of governmental experience and noting that its leader has been sanctioned by the US OFAC Unit for alleged gold and drug smuggling. The PPPC also suggests that if members of WIN are elected to Parliament, it could present challenges for the country’s relationship with the US.
Social commentator Ravi Dev states that the PNCR is currently at its weakest and likely to lose seats in the next Parliament. As stated before, there is speculation that WIN could match the AFC’s 2006 performance (of winning five seats) in the 2025 elections. This possibility places APNU in a difficult situation. How they react in the next 2 weeks on their campaign trail will be interesting.
While the PPPC continues to criticise WIN’s inexperience and policy ineptitude, it has risen above this to highlight its own achievements and fulfilment of 2020 manifesto promises. At the core of those promises was the trust factor. The PPPC has announced at a minimum level a hefty annual increase from $55,000 to $100,000 in the “Because We Care” grant; an annual student transport grant of $100,000; a monthly disability grant of $40,000; and an increase of the old age pension to $60,000 monthly plus an annual travel grant of $50,000 to seniors. Announcements of increases in the public sector will be made later.
Notwithstanding these beautiful measures, the breath-taking success of projects like the new Demerara Harbour Bridge (DHB) has evoked a powerful response from a Region 3 community leader: “This new DHB alone makes President Dr Irfaan Ali and his party qualify for a second term,” to which not many Guyanese would disagree.
Without national polls, it is hard to gauge voters’ attitudes. While political parties may conduct internal surveys, high turnout at rallies suggests much of the electorate is engaged, making the 2025 elections especially noteworthy. However, there is little public information on smaller parties like AFC, FMM, and ALP. The real outcome of the election campaign will be clear after the real polls on September 1, 2025.
Yours sincerely,
Dr Tara Singh
