Latest update March 30th, 2026 5:45 PM
Ali denies using state resources for PPP elections campaign
…says local banks don’t operate in isolation
Presidential candidate for the People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C) Irfaan Ali
Kaieteur News – Presidential candidate for the People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C) Irfaan Ali on Friday declared that his party has not used any state resources to fund its 2025 election campaign.
“First of all, let me say, state resources absolutely not true. We are incumbent, all right, and these accusations are always there, but our party, as you know, might have been the only party that would have had so many fundraisers,” Ali told reporters gathered outside one of the polling stations at Base Camp Ayanganna.
He outlined that the PPP has held fund raisers all across the country. “So, we have been able to raise enough resources with the love and support of our supporters and members, and we have been able to raise enough resources to efficiently carry out our campaign and our work for these elections, so there is no need for state resources, and state resources not being deployed to support our campaign,” Ali made it clear.
His response comes in light of a damning report by the Carter Center on government’s alleged abuse of state resources to carry out its elections campaign.
The center said earlier this week that it has been observing key activities, including nomination day and a series of campaign launches and events, as part of its effort to assess electoral preparations and the political environment in Guyana ahead of the September 1 polls.
The mission said it has received multiple allegations from political parties and civil society that the ruling party has misused state resources. “Social media and news reports are also rife with photographs suggestive of this problem. The use of state resources for party campaigning runs contrary to Guyana’s international obligations with respect to campaign finance,” the organisation outlined.
The center underscored allegations against the government about the use of state-owned vehicles to campaign, as well as the advantage taken of “10-day workers” in campaign activities. The body also slammed the government’s widespread spending, which it explained puts competing political parties at a disadvantage.
“Official government statements about the opening of schools and other public buildings regularly feature public officials in full ruling-party regalia, blurring the line between the state and the party. Since July 30, the president has announced he would promote over 2,800 Guyana Police Force officers. On Aug. 1, the government announced that bridge crossings would now be free. These and similar measures can be seen to afford the ruling party an unfair advantage. While Guyana’s laws do not prohibit new government spending after an election is called, such spending runs contrary to international standards and best practices intended to ensure a level playing field.
And while the entity is not conducting systematic media monitoring, it said it has noted and received reports indicating the bias state media coverage in favour of the ruling party. The mission has received complaints from several political parties reporting limited access to state media, with their events receiving little or no coverage. One party has also alleged that it was even denied the opportunity to place advertisements in state media.
“In the absence of specific legal provisions regulating media conduct during the electoral period, The Carter Center encourages state media to provide equal treatment to all political parties.”
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