Blackouts Return to Guyana: Citizens Demand Action as President Ali’s Leadership is Questioned

After a brief reprieve during the Christmas holiday, power outages have once again plagued Guyana, leaving citizens questioning the government’s ability to keep its promise of uninterrupted electricity. As of January 1, 2025, the familiar sight of blacked-out neighborhoods and unreliable power supply has returned, casting doubt on the People’s Progressive Party’s (PPP) assurances that the country would have round-the-clock electricity by the end of 2024.

During the Christmas season, the government triumphantly declared that there would be no blackouts, offering some hope for citizens who had endured years of power disruptions. However, just days after ringing in the New Year, Guyanese are back to facing daily blackouts, raising serious concerns about the government’s competence and its ability to follow through on its promises.

Former Public Infrastructure Minister David Patterson, speaking at an Alliance For Change (AFC) press conference last Friday, didn’t mince words in his condemnation of the government’s handling of the energy crisis. Patterson described the ongoing power shortages as a classic example of mismanagement, warning that the electricity woes would continue to haunt Guyanese throughout 2025.

The former minister said, “The real problem is that the government has not taken the time to properly understand the energy infrastructure needs of the country.”

The return of daily blackouts is not just an annoyance; it has serious consequences for residents and businesses alike. Power outages have disrupted daily routines, hindered the preservation of perishable goods, and even damaged household appliances, causing additional financial strain. People are left in the dark, figuratively and literally, about when they will see a reliable and sustainable energy supply.

Critics have also pointed fingers at Prime Minister Mark Phillips, who has responsibility for the sector, and since October 2020, has outlined numerous plans for reforming the electricity sector. Yet, under his leadership, the power outages have only become more frequent and widespread. “Phillips has been promising solutions for years, but instead, all we’ve seen are more blackouts and broken promises,” one critic said.

Government’s boast that it has injected GY$39 billion in 2024 to boost the energy capacity of the Guyana Power and Light Inc (GPL) has seen to material improvement in power supply throughout the country.  Despite repeated claims of addressing the energy crisis, the reality is that many areas still experience power cuts almost daily. This ongoing failure to stabilise the electricity sector speaks volumes about the PPP’s priorities and its ability to manage the nation’s most basic needs.

But the most damning critique is aimed squarely at President Irfaan Ali, whose leadership has failed to inspire confidence. Citizens are increasingly frustrated by what they perceive as Ali’s hands-off, immature approach to governing. Rather than taking charge of this critical situation, the president has allowed the power crisis to fester without providing clear direction or accountability.

Ali’s promises of turning things around by 2024 have come and gone without any real change, and now, as 2025 unfolds, Guyanese are asking: where is the leadership? The PPP’s inability to provide reliable electricity reflects a deeper failure in governance.

“President Ali has shown no urgency in tackling this problem,” one frustrated citizen said. “His leadership is a series of delays, broken promises, and unanswered questions. We need a president who acts like a responsible head of state, not one who waits for things to fall apart before reacting.”

Citizens are growing weary of empty promises and are demanding answers. As 2025 unfolds, it’s becoming increasingly clear that unless the government takes immediate and effective action, the energy crisis will remain a persistent problem that continues to hinder the nation’s development. With each blackout, the PPP’s credibility erodes further, and the calls for President Ali to step up and lead grow louder.

Another critic said this electricity crisis is no longer just about power outages—it’s a reflection of the PPP’s inability to govern effectively, as he called on the president to stop his irresponsible behavior and start acting like the leader the country desperately needs.