APNU says Ali’s swapping of ministers pointless

Sep 15, 2025 News

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 ─ says more incompetence, corruption expected

Kaieteur News – The A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) has poured cold water on President Irfaan Ali’s cabinet switch-up, calling it a pointless move.

In a statement released to media on Sunday, the coalition said the swearing in of 25 ministers on Saturday evening by the president, proves that the People’s Progressive Party Civic (PPP/C) administration is comfortable “with its record of under-performance, incompetence, and corruption,” pointing out that 18 of the cabinet members have returned instead of being replaced.

This begs to question, “Where is the promised cabinet shakeup? Where is the campaign promise to base selection on performance? Switching inept ministers, such as Priya Manickchand, Sonia Parag, and Oneidge Walrond from one ministry to another is a pointless exercise. They will continue to blunder and flop,” the statement added.

The coalition said the appointment of former ministers Robeson Benn and Joseph Hamilton as advisors to ministries, is just another ploy to provide them with a lavish retirement package which they do not deserve.

“To further insult the Guyanese people, we see the elevation of Deodat Indar from former minister within the Ministry of Public Works to a full minister of Public Utilities and Aviation. This is the same minister who has failed miserably to fix the blackout problem in Guyana, causing the Guyanese people much frustration and costing the national treasury tens of billions of dollars in financial waste.”

APNU’s contends that instead of being dismissed, Indar has now been put in a position “to wreak more havoc on households and on the economy.” The coalition said the government’s increase in ministers is “a result of the PPP doling out political patronage, resulting in more square pegs in round holes. With this cabinet, the PPP is shamelessly indicating that nothing will change,” APNU argued.

The coalition believes there will be continued lack of transformative or innovative ideas, along with the same ad-hoc and disjointed approach to planning. It argued that there will still be no people-centred approach to policymaking.

The party holds the view that, “Lots of money will be wasted through corruption and incompetence. Friends, families and favorites will still be rewarded at the expense of ordinary Guyanese.”

Therefore, the party is committing to remaining on the forefront to expose the failures of the current administration, standing up for workers, families, communities, and those struggling to make a daily living.

“We will increase our efforts to meet and listen to the people as we strive to represent them,” the party added.

President Irfaan Ali on Saturday night appointed members of his cabinet and announced the names of other parliamentarians and advisors at a ceremony held at State House, Georgetown.

Most of the ministers who served the last five years were retained while, a few new faces and new ministries were announced.

Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs Anil Nandlall has retained his portfolio while Ministers Dr. Vindyha Persaud (Minister of Human Services), Dr. Frank Anthony (Minister of Health), Vickram Bharrat (Minister of Natural Resources), Charles Ramson (Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport), Gail Teixeira (Minister of Parliamentary Affairs and Governance), Dr. Ashni Singh (Senior Minister in the Office of the President with responsibility for Finance), Hugh Todd (Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Relations), Kwame McCoy (Minister within the Office of the Prime Minister), Collin Croal (Minister of Housing), Juan Edgill (Minister of Public Works) and Zulfikar Mustapha (Minister of Agriculture) also retained their portfolios.

Former Minister of Education, Priya Manickchand has been assigned to the Ministry of Local Government and Regional Development. She will be joined by former Minister of Amerindian Affairs, Pauline Sukhai. Sukhai has been replaced by former Parliamentary Secretary, Sarah Browne.

Minister Sonia Parag who was Minister of Public Service, before it was absorbed by the Office of the President and served as Minister of Local Government and Regional Development, will now replace Manickchand as the education minister.

Minister Oneidge Walrond will replace former Minister Robeson Benn as the Minister of Home Affairs, while Benn will serve as her advisor. Former Minister of Housing and Water, Susan Rodrigues will take Walrond’s place as Minister of Tourism, Industry and Commerce.

Minister Deodat Indar was named Minister of Public Utilities and Aviation, a new ministry. In the last cabinet, he served as Minister within the Ministry of Public Works.

Among the new faces, attorney Keoma Griffith will replace Minister Joseph Hamilton as the Minister of Labour and Manpower Planning, while Hamilton will serve as his advisor.

Businessman and former national cricketer, Steven Jacobs has been appointed Minister within the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports with Minister Charles Ramson Jr. retaining his post as the senior minister. Another new face, Zulfikar Ally, was named Minister of Public Service, Government Efficiency and Implementation.

Additional new comers include Vickash Ramkissoon, who was named Minister within the Ministry of Agriculture, Mandanlall Ramraj Minister within the Ministry of Public Works and Vanessa Benn named Minister within the Ministry of Housing.

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• Ali, APNU, Cabinet, Ministers, PPP/C

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