Vice President Dr. Bharrat Jagdeo has strongly criticised the People’s National Congress Reform-led A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) and the Alliance For Change (AFC) Coalition, accusing them of undermining Guyana’s democratic foundations and economic progress through what he described as uninformed, and unrealistic political posturing.
Speaking at his weekly press briefing at Freedom House in Georgetown on Thursday afternoon, Jagdeo dismissed the opposition’s public statements and campaign materials, arguing that they reflect a disconnect from the country’s current economic and financial realities.
“If you listen to the PNC or APNU and the AFC, they’re still putting out these childish, infantile flyers that have no connection with the reality of the country, the economic reality of the country, as well as its financial reality. It is like just a person sends an idea to them, and they think that they must immediately convert that into policy without looking at the long-term implications for their country,” he said.
Jagdeo, who is also the General Secretary of the People’s Progressive Party (PPP), went on to share a recent promise made by the opposition leader as an example of his position.
He pointed out that “They’re even so sterile that Mr. Norton just recently promised to make UG free. When every sensible person in this country knows that university education is now free, he just promised that a couple of days ago. Well, maybe yesterday. And that is what we are contending with.”
Looking to the future, Jagdeo further highlighted that in the area of economic development, the opposition parties have no solid plan and cannot represent the interests of the country or its people.
“An opposition that has no plan, absolutely no plan. Now, election time, they’re going to put out a manifesto of promises that they do not intend to keep because it’s not grounded in a plan. That’s one,” he said.
“They have no achievement(s) in the past, they can’t go on the campaign trail and talk about the children of our country because they deny them rights,” the VP continued.
In the same breath, Jagdeo pointed out that the PPP is ready for the upcoming elections and will campaign on its track record, which stands on solid grounds of deliverance and good governance.
“We do not need to go back to our long history of progress made under the People’s Progressive Party. But if you were to do that, you would see that we’ve consistently been the sole party that has fought for people’s freedom, for democracy, and to ensure that all Guyana can prosper,” he said.
