-Dr. Jagdeo urges Guyanese to stay on the positive course with the PPP/C gov’t
GENERAL Secretary of the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) and Vice-President Dr. Bharrat Jagdeo has warned against jeopardising Guyana’s progress by entrusting one’s future to “a bunch of misfits”.
The Vice-President made the foregoing remarks late Saturday during an election rally at the Anna Regina Car Park in Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam). He was joined at the podium by President Dr. Irfaan Ali, Prime Minister Brigadier (Ret’d) Mark Phillips, and other senior government officials.
Speaking to thousands of roaring Guyanese, Dr. Jagdeo, in a fierce and unapologetic speech, took direct jabs at the Opposition and the third forces that are attempting to align themselves as independent, including US-sanctioned businessman Azruddin Mohamed.

With the September 1 polls rapidly approaching, this is no time for the electorate to be seduced by fantasy economics or be bought by handouts that some political parties are resorting to, the Vice-President emphasised.
He highlighted the brazen theft of the PPP/C’s ideas by the ‘We Invest in Nationhood’ (WIN) political party spearheaded by Mohamed. WIN launched its Manifesto for the 2025 General and Regional Elections on Thursday last, and aside from the document being chock-full of recycled PPP ideas, Dr. Jagdeo pointed to the executives fumbling over elementary questions during their engagement with the media.
“You think you can rest the future of your children in their hands? A bunch of misfits?” Dr. Jagdeo asked of no-one in particular, voice dripping sarcasm. “They have no experience whatsoever to manage anything! To do anything! And they’re all going to face sanctions!” he warned ominously.
Dr. Jagdeo pegged the political ambitions of the sanctioned businessman as an attempt to save himself, especially from egregious crimes levied against him by the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) of the US Department of the Treasury.
“One party stands way above all the other parties, and that’s the People’s Progressive Party!” the VP declared. “And that is why, come September 1, the PPP will win an overwhelming victory! You can’t come here and mislead people, and hand out a few things and lie and believe that the smart people of Essequibo will listen to that.”
Turning his attention to President Dr. Irfaan Ali, a tried, trusted and tested leader who stands out compared to other competitors, Dr. Jagdeo not only drew attention to the rapid development that has been unfolding under his astute leadership, but also his unwavering stance on matters of national importance, particularly where the nation’s territorial sovereignty is concerned.
“We are smart people here on the coast and across Guyana; we can’t put things at risk. We can’t put the future at risk. If you have to go to the ‘backdam’ on that day (September 1), don’t go! If you’re a rice farmer, go and vote! Make sure you are protecting yourself,” he told residents, cautioning them not to gamble with their future or their children’s.
OPPOSITION’S FAILING LEGACY
While reminding Guyanese not to fall prey to those who are brazenly stealing the PPP’s idea and others who are standing on a dismal track record, the Vice President reflected on the APNU+AFC’s tenure in office, which was marred by hardships.
“I came here in the sad years of the PNC rule, and we saw the desolation on the coast. There were no jobs; every meeting that we went to, people complained that they could not find work,” he said.
Even with the region relying heavily on agriculture, especially rice, Dr. Jagdeo recalled how callous the then APNU+AFC administration was to the farmers, and even pointed to former President David Granger’s statement that “rice is private business”.
He reflected on the PPP/C’s promise while in opposition that should it assume office, it would fight hard to change those grim circumstances.
BRIGHT FUTURE UNDER THE PPP/C
Noting that the opposition talks up promises that would render the nation bankrupt, the vice-president pointed to the PPP/C’s plans to prudently manage the nation, while ensuring citizens get more access to resources. From reversing the 300 burdensome taxes that the APNU+AFC clamped on the backs of Guyanese to the continued expansion in education, health and socio-economic programmes, Dr. Jagdeo highlighted the country’s bright future under the PPP/C.
Constructing farm-to-market roads, providing more targeted support to farmers, restoring the ‘Because We Care’ cash grant and creating over 60,000 new jobs since 2020 are among some of the numerous achievements by the PPP/C.
“Just imagine the circumstances before 2020. No help to your villages; no help to people in the villages, very few job opportunities, very few access to education. No hope for the future. But all that is changing, because of the investments we are making,” Dr. Jagdeo said, speaking to the Amerindians, in this regard.
However, it is not just 2015-2020, but he pointed to the People’s National Congress/Reform’s (PNC/R) 28 years of choking Guyana until it became the poorest country in the hemisphere.
“They destroyed our economy, and then in the five years they were re-elected, they tried to steal it again. And that’s why we say, ‘Never again; never again!”
Even while battling COVID-19, the country witnessed a new era of development, and according to the Vice President, “You’ve seen all the changes in Guyana that took place in three years of PPP government, because we lost two to ‘COVID’. Just imagine five more years, what could happen in this country. We’ll transform it. We fulfil the ambitions of our people. Everyone will get help. We’ve laid out our plans for the future.”
Speaking to the ‘Essequibians,’ the Vice-President made a number of promises, including lower electricity, transportation grants for the school children, and easing cost-of-living burdens even further.
Speaking about how the government has already taken a firm grip on the global impacts of the cost-of-living, he said that only a PPP government would do this because it cares for the people.
The development taking place throughout the length and breadth of Guyana includes all the nation’s people, as the Vice President said: “Whether you’re Amerindian, Indian, Portuguese, or you’re Afro-Guyanese, or mixed, we’re going to push you very hard to be educated, to get the scholarship to study. We’re going to push you to own a home. We’re going to help you get a job. We’re going to help you start a small business.”
He further told the mammoth crowd that elections are about assessing the past, celebrating achievements and laying out the plans. The PPP/C has done all of those, the Vice President said, noting that the other political parties do not have the nation’s best interests at heart.