Ali begs citizens to vote wisely

Jun 25, 2025 News

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…says other parties promising ‘moon and the stars’ irresponsible

Kaieteur News – President Irfaan Ali in an early morning message on Tuesday, urged Guyanese to protect the country’s development gains by voting wisely for the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) in the upcoming September 1 General and Regional Elections, warning that the progress achieved under his administration could be reversed by his opposition opponents.

Ali outlined government spending in the health, education and infrastructure sector and also the various grants and initiatives that they had implemented for the betterment of the citizens. With that in mind, he warned citizens to vote for the PPP and not to turn back the hands of the clock.

“Guyanese hear me, this is a choice you face in this election on September 1, the PPP Civic government has brought you stability, we have brought you economic growth, we brought you widespread development, we are building a social safety net, and we are doing so responsibly and stable,” he said.

President Ali cautioned that many of his political opponents are making promises that are neither feasible nor grounded in sound policy.

As it stands, PPP presidential candidate Irfaan Ali could face several contenders in the upcoming General and Regional Elections, including A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) leader Aubrey Norton, newcomer and US-sanctioned businessman Azruddin Mohamed, and Alliance for Change (AFC) leader Nigel Hughes, among others. Notably, these presidential candidates are subject to change, particularly if coalition agreements are formed ahead of the elections.

Ali noted, “Those many groups that we are running against are like the grasshopper. They are promising all kinds of things, irresponsible things to make you happy now, instead of properly preparing for the future, they are promising you the moon and the stars. They say you can have it all right now. But my brothers and sisters, this is irresponsible and leads to instability.”

He even referenced a children’s story, ‘The Ant and the Grasshopper’, to draw comparison between the PPP and the opposition political parties. Ali noted that the ants are the PPP and the grasshoppers are the other political parties.
“[The] ant spent the summer working and being responsible. The ant worked day in and day out to have their home with food so when the winter came, they would have something to eat. The grasshopper spent their summer gyaffing and eating like they didn’t have a care in the world. Then winter came, and what happened, grasshoppers came to the ants starving because they spent the summer being irresponsible instead of preparing for the future,” he noted.

Ali added, “The choices of September 1st that you have is for safe, stable, secure and responsible development with the People’s Progressive Party and taking this country forward without any risk, and you’ve seen the nature of the grasshopper.”

In addition to highlighting the PPP government’s investments in infrastructure, housing, education, health, and public service wages, Ali pointed to thousands of kilometers of roads and hundreds of new bridges both major and community level as well as improved salaries for teachers, public servants, and members of the security forces.
In education, he said, over 30,000 Guyanese have earned academic and professional qualifications under his administration, and tuition at the University of Guyana is now free. The “Because We Care” cash grant has been expanded, and scholarship opportunities have surged.

In healthcare, Ali said the government is working to build a system that is “world-class, affordable, free, and equitable,” with new hospitals, clinics, and partnerships with renowned international institutions like Mount Sinai and Northwell Health.

Ali used part of his address to remind citizens of the APNU+AFC’s time in office, which he said was marked by hardship and broken promises. “Consider that what we have today, consider the way we are delivering because it is comprehensive, and if you do not vote for moving forward together as one people on September 1, you put it all at risk,” he said.

To this end, Ali pleaded with citizens to vote for the PPP to ensure that Guyana keeps moving forward. President Ali said, “You’ve done all of this, my brothers and sisters, now it’s not the time to tear it apart. Now it’s not the time to risk it. This is the time for strong, trusted, stable, competent, visionary leadership, and that is what the People’s Progressive Party Civic [in] office do.”

Moreover, with Venezuela’s claim to Guyana’s Essequibo region still looming, Ali pointed to the government’s ongoing investments in national security.

Also on Venezuela, Ali outlined how the neighbouring Spanish-speaking nation was the wealthiest country in South America a few decades ago, and how that has changed, to it being one of the poorest countries in the continent.
“Even though they have oil, oil alone does not translate into wealth, the choices we make, the policies we pursue, the ambitions we have for our people, the investments we make, the way in which we invest in our people, and the choices in which we give them,” he said.

He further noted that a viable country is not like Santa Claus walking around, it is about strong policies, good leadership, consistent leadership, trusted leadership and understanding of what is required to make our country great.

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• APNU, Development, Elections, Irfaan Ali, Vote wisely

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