WE Invest in Nationhood (WIN), the political party led by U.S.-sanctioned businessman Azruddin Mohamed, has unveiled an ambitious manifesto promising sweeping economic reforms, major public investments, and increased social spending. However, the party has failed to present a clear or realistic plan on how it intends to fund these promises.
The Providence, East Bank Demerara launch event held on Thursday, was crowded with heckling party candidates/supporters and featured a slew of bold pledges.
Mohamed presented the party’s manifesto as a commitment to improving lives through bold policies, reducing living costs, boosting local manufacturing, and investing in youth.
Yet when pressed by journalists, WIN representatives offered few details on how these programmes would be financed.
The businessman was joined by former A Partnership for National Unity +Alliance for Change (APNU+AFC) parliamentarians, Natasha Singh-Lewis, Dawn Hastings-Williams and Tabitha Sarabo- Halley and former Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo) Agriculture Director, Vishnu Panday.
Mohamed revealed that should his party be elected to office, public assistance will be increased from $22,000 to $50,000, public assistance for individuals living with HIV and cancer will move from $14,000 to $30,000, old-age pension will increase from $41,000 to $100,000, PAYE will be reduced, the income tax threshold will be increased from $130,000 to $200,000, public servant salaries will go up by up to 50 per cent while the private sector will be engaged on increasing their minimum wage, and value added tax (VAT) will be reduced from 14 per cent to 10 per cent.
However, when asked by the media to elaborate on his plans for the country and how he and his party intend to financially fulfil those promises, the businessman offered no clear answer but offered commentary on this year’s fiscal package, citing instances of “wasteful spending”.
“We went through the 2025 budget. I saw so much of wasteful spending… So, all these monies that are being spent goes behind corruption, wasteful spending and corruption. So, we have the money, and we will invest the money in the right place,” the businessman said, but still offered no explanation on where the money will come from.
During the formal question and answers segment of the manifesto launch, journalists were met with heckling from candidates and supporters of the party, who watched on from the back of conference room where the launch was held.
The party’s General Secretary, Odessa Primus indicated that members of the press would be able to extensively engage Mr. Mohamed on other matters following the launch. However, he swiftly exited the conference room, after being approached for follow-up questions.
Primus offered no explanation for his abrupt departure.