THE People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR), despite its public claims of prioritising the welfare of Georgetown and its residents, has been exposed as a significant contributor to the financial troubles plaguing City Hall.

According to Dr Bharrat Jagdeo, General Secretary of the People’s Progressive Party (PPP), the PNCR’s neglectful actions have led to a staggering debt of over $6.7 billion owed to City Hall, mainly from unpaid rates and taxes on their headquarters, Congress Place, and other properties.

This revelation comes amid recent moves by PNCR-led city councillors to propose a reduction in tax rates specifically for political parties—a self-serving policy that conveniently benefits the PNCR, the party with the largest outstanding debt to the city.

The council’s majority, led by the PNCR, has consistently ignored the financial realities facing the city. Instead of focusing on measures that could alleviate the city’s dire financial situation, they have chosen to push forward policies that would relieve themselves of their own fiscal responsibilities.

During a recent press conference, Dr Jagdeo pointed out the glaring hypocrisy of the PNCR’s actions. The PNCR, with its majority control of the City Council, is supposed to be an advocate for the development of Georgetown. Instead, it has used its position to benefit itself at the expense of the city’s residents. The proposal to reduce tax rates for political parties is not just a political manoeuvre; it is a direct assault on the finances of a city already struggling to pay its staff, honour its debts, and carry out necessary infrastructural projects.

The People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) councillors have been vocal in their opposition to this policy, rightly arguing that such a move would deprive Georgetown of much-needed revenue. City Councillor Alfonso De Armas described the proposal as “self-serving and detrimental” to the city’s residents. He argued that the PNCR is placing its own interests above those of the people of Georgetown, further exacerbating the city’s financial woes. This sentiment was echoed by fellow PPP/C councillors Patricia Chase-Greene and Steven Jacobs, who stressed the unfairness of expecting ordinary citizens to pay their taxes while political parties, especially those in debt like the PNCR, are given a pass.

The PNCR’s actions are not just financially irresponsible; they reflect a broader pattern of governance that prioritises political gain over public good. This is not an isolated incident. The PNCR’s approach to governance has often been characterised by empty slogans and poorly thought-out policies. This was evident in their critique of the government’s Low Carbon Development Strategy (LCDS), whereby the opposition failed to present a coherent alternative, resorting instead to shallow slogans that lack substance.

The LCDS, a key policy of the PPP/C government, is designed to promote sustainable development by leveraging Guyana’s natural resources. In contrast, the PNCR’s so-called “Green State Strategy” lacked clarity and vision, failing to provide any meaningful direction for the country’s environmental and economic future. Dr Jagdeo pointed out that the opposition’s strategy was an “agglomeration of wishful thinking” with no concrete plans for climate mitigation or biodiversity preservation.

The pattern is clear: whether it is managing the finances of Georgetown or addressing national environmental policies, the PNCR has consistently demonstrated a lack of foresight and responsibility. Their recent proposal at the City Council is yet another example of their tendency to prioritise party interests over the welfare of the citizens they claim to serve.

In the face of this ongoing mismanagement, the people of Georgetown and Guyana at large deserve better. They deserve a leadership that is committed to transparency, accountability, and the genuine development of their communities. The PPP/C councillors have pledged to explore legal avenues to challenge the PNCR’s self-serving tax proposal, emphasising the need to protect the city’s interests.

As citizens, we must demand more from those who seek to lead us. We must call out hypocrisy and hold our leaders accountable for their actions. Georgetown cannot afford to have its future gambled away by those who prioritise their own political survival over the needs of the people. The time for change is now.