Jagdeo: AFC criticisms are like ‘Lucifer lecturing angels on sin’

Describing the Alliance For Change’s (AFC) recent comments as “hypocritical,” General Secretary of the People’s Progressive Party (PPP), Dr. Bharrat Jagdeo, on Thursday defended the government’s economic management and governance record.

He slammed the AFC for criticising taxation policies and public sector governance—areas in which he said the coalition itself had a damaging track record.

Speaking at his weekly press conference at Freedom House, Dr. Jagdeo dismissed the AFC’s remarks as “hollow and deceitful,” stating, “Imagine the AFC talking about taxation – it’s like Lucifer going to heaven and lecturing the angels on how not to sin.”

He reminded the public that between 2015 and 2020, the AFC-led coalition imposed VAT on electricity, water, healthcare, baby food, and hinterland travel, while also introducing nearly 200 new taxes and fees.

According to Dr. Jagdeo, the coalition collected $94 billion more in annual revenue through these measures, yet claimed it was broke. “They had the money but chose to spend it on perks like overseas healthcare for ministers while removing cash grants from schoolchildren,” he said, adding that the decisions were not driven by fiscal necessity but by “skewed priorities.”

In contrast, Dr. Jagdeo said the PPP administration has reduced taxes, removed VAT on essential goods and services, and stayed faithful to its manifesto commitments.

“We lowered taxes, removed burdens, and channelled spending into infrastructure and human development—that’s how we prioritized growth,” he stated.

Dr. Jagdeo also pointed to significant improvements in both the public and private sectors since the PPP returned to office in 2020.

“In the public sector alone, wages have increased by roughly $500 million more annually compared to 2020, directly benefiting over 60,000 workers,” he said.

He highlighted job creation in industries such as fast food, hospitality, and transportation, saying more Guyanese now enjoy increased disposable income and financial stability.

“The rise in aggregate deposits in the banking sector proves that our people are earning, saving, and spending more. That’s a clear sign of growing prosperity,” he added.

Turning to healthcare, Dr. Jagdeo cited the construction of 12 new public hospitals as evidence of real reform, not just rhetoric.

Six of these, including the $30 million Diamond Hospital, are set to open by September. Larger facilities are also under construction in New Amsterdam and Ogle.

“These public hospitals will be on par with the best in the private sector,” he noted, encouraging journalists to visit these health facilities for themselves. Dr. Jagdeo recalled the poor state of the health system inherited from the coalition, including limited testing capacity and a shortage of medical oxygen during the early days of the pandemic.

“We moved from 40 COVID-19 tests per day under the coalition to 5,000 under our administration. We brought in international experts, cleared $10 billion worth of expired drugs, and reconfigured our health system to meet real needs,” he explained.

Dr. Jagdeo reiterated the PPP’s commitment to meaningful transformation in both governance and service delivery, stressing that ongoing reforms—particularly in healthcare—are rooted in action, not slogans.