Dear Editor,
In Guyana today, poverty has become a political stage. People are tired of being displayed on social media by a gaslighting government in their hardest moments. But ask the government why teachers, nurses, police officers and public servants salaries are so low, how supporters and some relatives and spouses are getting rich seemingly overnight, while the masses, and those who do not support the government, are told by the Vice President, “the President said if you behaved yourself.” Who does the VP think he is?
Since coming to office, President Irfaan Ali has carefully crafted an image of being everywhere and everything at once, a jack of all trades, friendly, youthful, confident, and always “in touch” with the people. This is not accidental, it is a strategy, designed to minimize discontent by people, and portray an impression that “we understand and sympathize with your plight.” Public appearances, selective outreach with monthly ministerial outreach disguised as “taking government to the people” and tightly controlled messaging are used to shape media and public narratives locally and internationally, not to solve or prevent problems affecting the average Guyanese family. Even basic national tools like census data are two years delayed, keeping the public in the dark while decisions are made behind closed doors.
Since the 2025 elections, this approach has been duplicated. Minister Priya Manickchand now plays a similar role, visiting struggling Guyanese to project care and concern. These visits are meant to calm frustration and create the appearance of action. But real care is not a visit, a photo, or a video. Real care means fixing the systems that keep people poor in the first place.
The reality on the ground is very different. Across the country, people face broken roads, unsafe schools, failing public buildings, unreliable water supply, and poor access to healthcare and transportation. These are not isolated problems. Meanwhile, those close to power benefit from contracts, connections, and comfort.
What sets Azruddin Mohamed and WIN apart is focus and intent. The group has consistently drawn attention to these living conditions, deplorable buildings, roads and services, pushing for practical improvements. Even when he gives direct assistance like wheelchairs, vehicles, or business support, he speaks about fairness, access, and long-term solutions.
There has been a generational shift in Guyana. The majority of the population is now young people and young adults. They are no longer impressed by staged sympathy or social media performances. They want systemic change. They want to move beyond both the PPP and the PNC and end politics built on fear, loyalty, and racial manipulation.
This is the deeper issue. For decades, racial division has been used as a political tool to control votes and limit real accountability. When race and fear dominate politics, corruption thrives and people hesitate to speak out. Poverty becomes leverage. Silence becomes survival.
The PPP do not deserve to manage the affairs and resources of Guyana, we need fresh, new leadership, detached from the Burnham, Cheddi and Bharrat eras.