AS Guyana approaches the pivotal September 1, 2025 General and Regional Elections, Dr. Bharrat Jagdeo’s recent declarations paint a picture of a party confident in its trajectory yet acutely aware of the monumental tasks ahead.
His candid admission that the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) “still has tons of things to do” reflects both refreshing honesty and political pragmatism that should resonate with voters seeking substance over rhetoric.
The vision of the PPP’s declared agenda is breathtaking in ambition, from mundane but extremely significant issues like traffic pattern and trash dumping to more revolutionary steps like computer upgrading and deepening financial services.
Jagdeo’s call for setting up a development bank for small and medium enterprises, and investment possibilities for citizens demonstrates an understanding that Guyana’s oil bonanza must be translated into mainstream economic engagement, and not simply for enrichment for an elite minority.
The commitment by the party towards a five-year digitalisation plan, for instance, utilising block-chain within public services, puts Guyana on the trajectory to become a future leader in ‘tech’ rule in the region.
But here lies the test of implementation. The PPP’s performance since 2020 has both reason for optimism and reason for worry.
The $105 billion increase in public sector wages and massive investment in infrastructure reflect fiscal commitment to development.
The priority that the government puts on modernising the power grid through the gas-to-energy project reflects strategic regard for fundamental infrastructure. But the continuing problems with drainage infrastructure and waste disposal that Jagdeo himself refers to show that fundamental municipal services still call for urgent attention.
What is striking in this campaign message is Jagdeo’s willingness to campaign based on record performance rather than promises.
His announcement that the PPP will campaign on its “track record of transformation” invites challenge that confident-in-office governing parties should be clamoring for. The party’s attention to advance budgetting and careful policy rollout suggests institutionalisation.
Lastly, Guyanese voters are faced with the option between continuity with tangible accomplishment, and the unknown of alternative leadership.
Jagdeo’s vision across the board, grounded both in effective governance and forward-looking planning for the future, provides a compelling case for sustained PPP leadership at this time of national transformation.
