Opposition Member of Parliament Devin Sears tore into the ruling People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C), yesterday, Day Three of the Budget Debates. He accused the government of failing to prioritise the needs of ordinary Guyanese citizens despite the nation’s booming economy. Guyana is ranked the world’s fastest growing economy and richest per capita.
The parliamentarian, who represents Region #10 and hails from Linden, denounced the government’s “lackluster” efforts, claiming the PPP’s policies are deeply rooted in cronyism and mismanagement.
Sears first commended the hardworking staff of the Ministry of Finance and other ministries, but pointed out that, under the PPP’s leadership, the 2025 budget would continue to fall short of delivering the promised “quality life” for all Guyanese. He declared that the budget “fails to foster pride” among the citizenry and accused the government of ruling with a heavy hand, stifling democracy at the local level.
“Democracy is becoming a growing farce in this country,” Sears stated, calling for a united effort to rise against what he described as “tyranny, nepotism, and favouritism” under the current administration.
Linden’s Missed Potential and Youth Unemployment Crisis
Sears lambasted the government’s neglect of Linden, the town he represents, which he says has been denied city status despite decades of PPP/C governance. He criticised senior ministers, all of whom hail from Linden, for failing to deliver on promises for infrastructure development and job creation in the region.
The PPP has been in power for over 30 years, and Linden has not yet risen to its true potential, Sears remarked, pointing to the town’s underwhelming status despite its significance to Guyana’s history.
Addressing the broader issue of youth unemployment, Sears painted a grim picture of Upper Demerara/Upper Berbice, where he claimed youth are struggling with “temporary 10-day jobs” and contract work that fails to offer long-term stability. He challenged Minister of Labour Joseph Hamilton to refute these claims, highlighting the government’s reliance on migrant labour rather than investing in skill development for local workers.
He questioned why Guyanese have to depend on remittances to survive, criticising the fact that Guyana’s remittance flows account for 17% of the nation’s GDP, a stark indicator that “trickle-down economics” has failed to benefit the average citizen.
The Alliance for Change (AFC) parliamentarian also highlighted inequity in the government’s management of the economy. According to Sears, “for capital projects 90% of the budgetary allocation is awarded to 10% of the PPP’s Family, Friends and Favourites; and 10% of the budgetary allocation is awarded to 90% of you the small contractors.”
Contractor Allegations and Public Works Failures
Sears didn’t hold back when addressing the handling of public contracts, particularly in his region. He accused the PPP of using contract awards as a political tool. Roads are incomplete, drains are missing, he highlighted, claiming that a disproportionate amount of public works money was funneled to a select few with political connections.
Delving deeper into government inequitable management of the economy, the Alliance for Change (AFC) parliamentarian said “for capital projects 90% of the budgetary allocation is awarded to 10% of the PPP’s Family, Friends and Favourites; and 10% of the budgetary allocation is awarded to 90% of you the small contractors.”
He also questioned the fate of several infrastructure projects, including the ongoing issues with the Bamia Primary School, the Wiruni Secondary School, and the Kwakwani swimming pool, among others. “Everything the PPP touches falls apart,” he declared.
A Call for Real Investment in Guyanese Workers
Sears’ condemnation of the PPP extended to the government’s handling of the tourism sector, where he argued that Guyana is missing out on opportunities for growth due to a lack of skilled workers. He stressed the importance of investing in training programmes for hospitality and tourism workers, urging the government to stop “fiddling” with local governance and start implementing real changes.
Sears has called for Guyana to exploit its tourism potential by investing in training programmes and infrastructure, adding that there needs to be a stronger push for policies that would attract global investors and boost domestic tourism.
A Lack of Transparency and Inclusive Development
Sears wrapped up his speech with a call for Guyanese to unite and demand change. He argued that while Guyana’s oil wealth could transform the country, it has not been equitably distributed, and governance continues to be marked by poor planning and exclusionary practices.
“The PPP’s days are numbered,” Sears declared, “It’s time for Guyanese to unite and take back our country.” With his vote against Budget 2025, Sears signaled a clear stance against what he sees as a government more concerned with political power than the well-being of ordinary Guyanese.
