Opposition promises are bribery and trickery – President

President Dr Irfaan Ali has dismissed the opposition’s promises to increase salaries, pensions, and grants as nothing more than bribery and trickery, urging citizens not to be misled by these tactics in the lead-up to the September 1 general and regional elections.

“The seasonal gifts of those who try to betray you—the one-day gift that they believe can buy people’s dignity, whether it is 25, 50, or 75,000 dollars—that is not development. That is bribery, and that is an attempt to buy your dignity,” he told supporters gathered at the Anna Regina Market Square for the party’s grand rally in the region.

“Tell them your dignity is not for sale, your honour is not for sale. Because when that 50,000 dollars is finished, what happens next?” he asked.

The A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) has promised to raise the old age pension to $75,000, but at the end of its term in 2020, the pension stood at just $20,500.

Dr Ali also criticised the presidential candidate of another political party—the We Invest in Nationhood (WIN) party, led by US-sanctioned businessman Azruddin Mohamed—who, he said, has been moving through communities under the guise of offering charity, while seeking to win political support.

“One good thing about this party is that we can identify trickery. That’s why, when Mr Mohamed was parading under the guise of charity, it was the General Secretary [Dr Bharrat Jagdeo] and the PPP who called him out. He said, ‘Me na kay about politics and power’… but you saw that he was called out correctly,” the President stated.

Referring to Mohamed’s sanctions by the United States for alleged corruption and gold smuggling, Dr Ali reiterated that Mohamed “is a present and future danger to the security of this country,” motivated only by self-preservation.

“He is putting the future of this country at risk… and we cannot allow any part of our country to be endangered,” he warned.

Drawing parallels with neighbouring Venezuela, the President said Guyanese citizens must avoid gambling with their future and instead vote for long-term, sustainable development.

“Development is not a spur-of-the-moment thing. It calls for ideas, policies, and programmes that guarantee success—not for one day, one season, or one year, but for a lifetime. That is the development we are pursuing. That is why you must understand the difference between those who care and those who are only trying to protect themselves and their ill-gotten wealth,” he emphasised.

He pointed out that the manifesto promises announced by other parties, including WIN, were largely copied from the PPP/C’s current and planned programmes.

To this, the President responded, “You can copy, but you can’t implement,” stressing that experience, respect, strategy, policy, and vision are all necessary to bring plans to fruition.

He cautioned voters against choosing any party that threatens the country’s sovereignty and territorial integrity or one that would reinstate the more than 200 taxes reversed by the PPP/C since 2020.

“When you vote on September 1, you are voting to protect the sovereignty and territorial integrity of our country… You are voting to protect your honour and dignity. Your vote is about your children, your dignity, your parents, and your grandparents,” he told supporters.