More than 50% of Guyanese living in poverty – Azruddin Mohamed

Jul 13, 2025 News

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…promises bigger cash grants, salary increases, free housing

Kaieteur News – Presidential hopeful Azruddin Mohamed on Friday claimed that more than 50 percent of the Guyanese are living in poverty. Mohamed was speaking at an outreach hosted by his party, We Invest in Nationhood (WIN) at Ituni, Region 10.

Though he did provide statistics, the billionaire said that is “the real side of Guyana” while assuring residents and supporters that his party can fix the situation.

“I announced my candidacy because of you. Because of the children… parents that cannot afford for their children to go to school, can’t even afford to put food on your table for our children,” he said while adding “I have seen the real side of Guyana… a side a side that they (the ruling PPP/C govt.) won’t show you.”

Mohamed reminded that Guyana is considered to have the fastest growing economy.

“…barrels of oil, fastest GDP (Gross Domestic Product) but more than 50 percent of this population is living in poverty, that is the harsh reality,” he said while rhetorically asking “How much of us have $200,000 in our bank account or even $200,000 in cash?”

One person in attendance shouted out, “I gat $500”.

Mohamed then told the residents of Ituni that everywhere he goes the common complaint is that “cost-of-living (in Guyana) is so high.”

“$600 for a pound of chicken… four bora for $500, a piece of pumpkin for $1200, and yet your salary remain the same,” Mohamed said as he accused the ruling People’s Progressive Party (PPP) of not having the formula to fix “things”.

He acknowledged that he is being criticized by the government for lacking political experience but assured supporters that his business acumen has given him sufficient experience.

“They fail to realise that the same Mohamed that they are criticizing ran one of the biggest businesses in this country, one of the biggest businesses in this country, paid the most taxes in this country but they won’t acknowledge that right now,” Mohamed said.

The businessman, who along with his father Nazar Mohamed and former Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Home Affairs Mae Thomas, turned his attention to the scarcity of the United States dollar and the current exchange rate for U.S.

“US rate is at $230 for one if you go in Georgetown and if you want to by US$10,000 you cannot get it. If you go to the bank and ask to transfer US$100,000 or US$10,000 you can’t get it, you have to wait a week or two weeks at the bank,” Mohamed who operated a cambio said.

PPP’s General Secretary Bharrat Jagdeo at a recent press conference has acknowledged that there is a problem with the availability of the US currency but said that there is nothing wrong with the “(Financial) instrument”.

Jagdeo claimed too that with or without oil his government has the capacity to pump US dollars into the market when needed. With regard to scarcity of the currency Jagdeo pointed to hoarding by businesses, and hinted that Trinidadian and Chinese entities might be contributing to the problem.

However, Mohamed posited that sanctioning him and his businesses might also be a contributor to the US currency shortage.

“Since I was sanctioned, this is what happened but they won’t acknowledge all these things,” he claimed.

Meanwhile, the presidential hopeful said that since taking office in 2020, the government has spent $4.5 trillion but that money has not benefitted the citizenry due to corruption.

“57 percent of our budget every year goes to corruption,” Mohamed said before alleging that even Chinese investors “got to pass something” to do business in Guyana.

He spoke too of the Chinese investors using Chinese workers instead of local labour, something he said he will stop once elected to serve.

Additionally, Mohamed promised to disburse larger cash grants, increase salaries for all public servants and part-time workers as well as provide free houses for the vulnerable.

“Ten-day workers will get more than $40,000,” he promised before adding, “Our CSO (Community Service Officers) workers, they got to wait two to three months before they get their money … you will get paid on time and you will get more.”

He continued, “Because We Care cash grant, you will get more than $55,000 because cost-of-living is so high, you have to get more and you will get more.”

Mohamed described the government as “disrespectful” for only handing out $100,000 cash grant after five years of pumping oil.

“You will get more (larger) cash grants under this administration,” he said before promising an immediate salary increase for all public servants.

He said he will set up a committee to build free houses for the vulnerable.

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• Azruddin Mohamed, cash grants, free housing, Guyana Elections, Ituni, Linden, People's Progressive Party, poverty, salary increases, WIN Party

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