Jagdeo: Ali and Phillips bring experience, opposition offers novices 

General Secretary of the People’s Progressive Party (PPP), Dr. Bharrat Jagdeo, launched a scathing critique of the opposition APNU+AFC coalition, accusing them of poor leadership, failed land policies, internal disarray, and a lack of credibility.

Speaking at his weekly press conference today at Freedom House, Dr. Jagdeo called attention to the past actions of the APNU+AFC administration, particularly their handling of lands at Wales, West Bank Demerara. He asserted that thousands of acres of former GuySuCo land were handed over to a select few individuals—many of whom were allegedly connected to the opposition—and not used for the benefit of ordinary citizens.

“We now have to take those lands back to build houses for people,” Jagdeo stated, referring to the government’s effort to reclaim and repurpose lands for residential use. “We’re now developing over 14,000 house lots at Wales. If we hadn’t taken those lands back, we wouldn’t have been able to fulfill our housing plan.”

He contrasted the PPP’s housing efforts with what he described as APNU+AFC’s abandonment of communities like Wales, particularly during their controversial decision to shutter sugar estates, which he said devastated livelihoods in sugar-dependent areas.

Turning to the political landscape, Dr Jagdeo described the opposition coalition as being in “utter confusion,” referencing recent public disputes between the APNU and AFC factions over potential presidential and prime ministerial candidates.

“In one breath, AFC says a Norton-led coalition won’t have national appeal. Yet, they’re still negotiating to join with him,” Dr Jagdeo said, highlighting contradictory statements and what he deemed as political desperation. “If you can’t even agree on what was said during your own internal discussions, how can people trust you to govern?”

He dismissed the AFC’s potential return to the APNU fold as a “recycling of the same discredited faces,” pointing to figures like Aubrey Norton, Sherod Duncan, and David Patterson, who he said were central to the previous coalition’s poor performance from 2015 to 2020.

In a direct comparison of leadership credentials, Dr Jagdeo praised President Irfaan Ali’s background and accomplishments, citing his prior roles in the housing and tourism sectors, as well as his five-year tenure as president.

“Irfaan Ali has represented Guyana globally on issues like climate change, food security, and our border with Venezuela,” Dr Jagdeo said. “He has experience, vision, and has been delivering results.”

The PPP’s prime ministerial candidate, Mark Phillips, was also described as highly experienced, having led the Guyana Defence Force before serving as Prime Minister.

In contrast, Dr Jagdeo criticised the opposition’s leadership prospects, calling Norton a “peripheral figure” during his time in government with no significant managerial or policy experience. He also dismissed AFC MP Catherine Hughes, noting she had no leadership background before entering Parliament in 2022.

“The opposition is now led by novices,” Dr Jagdeo declared. “They’ve never negotiated major loans, led serious national programmes, or demonstrated the competence needed to lead a country.”

Despite the opposition’s maneuverings to reconfigure alliances, Jagdeo said the PPP remains confident in its track record and national support.

“Our strength isn’t in arrogance, but in our performance,” he concluded. “The people of Guyana are seeing the results—whether in housing, jobs, or infrastructure—and they are choosing progress.”

The APNU+AFC coalition, which governed Guyana from 2015 to 2020, has faced internal divisions since losing the 2020 General Elections to the PPP/C.