A President of priorities or privileges

Apr 16, 2025 Letters

Dear Editor,

As Guyana continues to experience unprecedented oil wealth and global attention, one would expect visionary leadership rooted in accountability, humility, and a genuine commitment to national unity. Unfortunately, under the Irfaan Ali administration, we are witnessing the opposite: a governance style heavy on PR and receptions, but light on substance and standards.

From public outbursts at workers to attacks on civil society and critics, this government increasingly displays an intolerance for dissent. Even basic standards of public communication have eroded—when the President of a nation cannot properly pronounce words during national addresses, it reflects a deeper lack of preparation and respect for the office.

In the interest of fairness, let us consider the balanced scorecard of this administration:

1. Financial Management:

Strengths: Surge in oil revenues, increased infrastructure spending, cash transfers to citizens.

Concerns: Lack of transparency in oil revenue use, roads built for friends and family now crumbling, and questionable spending priorities, while the poor still struggle. The Ministry of Finance has failed, to date, to produce census results and what a chaos with cash grants. Dr. Ashni Singh may be a good orator, critically look at departments under his portfolio. The NIS is still a mess.

2. Citizen Satisfaction:

Strengths: Grants to children and elderly, visible urban upgrades.

Concerns: Ethnic divisions deepening, “One Guyana” has failed to unify. Public frustration grows over high cost of living, crime, and inequities in resource distribution. These are one-off to pacify and win votes. Real issues still ignored.

3. Internal Processes:

Strengths: Push for digital public services.

Concerns: GECOM, ERC, PPC, and PPSC are all in disarray, compromised by PPPC domination and appointments that plague these key agencies, the “catfish license” saga still haunts us, and independent institutions are being weakened. Nigel Dharamlall was asked to resign, yet remains active in party business. Where’s the accountability? It’s a shame and an insult.

4. Learning & Growth:

Strengths: Scholarships and training programs.

Concerns: Education sector under strain, teachers disillusioned, and national development seems limited to party loyalists. School violence, periodic cultural clashes. School contracts to friends. Job creation beyond construction and oil remains bleak.

What we also cannot ignore is the lavish hosting of receptions, endless ribbon-cuttings, and excessive spending on image-building rather than institution-building. At a time when many citizens are struggling, the First Lady and her inner circle’s frequent travels on public funds raise serious ethical questions.

Guyanese deserve a government that listens more than it lectures, serves more than it celebrates, and plans for future generations—not just the next elections. We cannot afford to be dazzled by roads and handouts while our democracy, institutions, and moral compass are quietly eroding. From weekly division by the Vice President, to a dancing unprofessional, hollar-down style President, Guyana deserves better.

The heart of the matter lies in the administration’s pattern of poor governance marked by blurred lines between party and State, selective justice, and decision-making driven more by loyalty than merit. From sidelining independent voices to interfering in constitutional bodies, this government has weakened the very institutions meant to safeguard democracy. Public policy appears reactive and politicized, while long-term national planning takes a back seat to political expediency.

We are not ungrateful; we are just demanding better. Leadership should never be a cult of personality—it should be a service to the people.

Sincerely,

K. Ramsingh

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