Georgetown, Guyana – Standing before an energized audience at the launch of the newly formed Alliance for Liberation and Progress (ALP) party, Oscar Jacobis delivered a striking speech that underscored the urgent need for reform in Guyana. With passion and conviction, Jacobis painted a sobering picture of a nation struggling with violent crime, corruption, and systemic failures—yet one still brimming with hope and potential.
Jacobis began his speech with poignant lyrics from two patriotic songs, invoking both the beauty and the challenges of Guyana. “Look on the other side. Do you see anything to smile about?” he asked, urging citizens to take a hard look at the nation’s current state. He followed with a tribute to Oh Beautiful Guyana, a song that reminds citizens of their love and pride for their homeland.
But beneath the patriotic sentiment lay a grim reality. Jacobis did not mince words as he addressed the deep-seated issues that threaten the country’s progress.
He laid bare a sobering truth—Guyana faces a surge in violent crime, with over 140 murders reported annually. Even more alarming, the country continues to rank among the highest globally in suicide rates, particularly among men. Citing World Health Organization statistics, Jacobis reminded the audience that from 2013 to 2017, Guyana held the tragic title of the world’s highest suicide rate, a crisis that has yet to be effectively tackled.
Beyond crime and mental health, Jacobis exposed the prevalence of contraband smuggling and drug trafficking, which he called “one of the most critical issues” facing the country. In 2021 alone, over 600 kilograms of cocaine and thousands of rounds of illegal ammunition were seized. Despite these discoveries, Jacobis warned that this was just “the tip of the iceberg.”
Corruption within the prison system, he argued, only fuels the crime wave. Prohibited items—drugs, weapons, and even cell phones—routinely make their way into the country’s prisons. He pointed to 2020 investigations that revealed prison officers actively facilitating contraband smuggling. In 2022, multiple officers were arrested for smuggling drugs and food items into the Georgetown prison, and in 2023, a deeper network of corruption was exposed.
Jacobis was blunt in assigning blame. The Ministry of Home Affairs, responsible for public safety, has “fallen short” in its duties, he charged. The very institutions meant to protect citizens—the police, prison services, and border security—are struggling due to inefficiency, a lack of transparency, and chronic underfunding.
“How can we expect them to protect us,” Jacobis asked, “when we fail to protect them?”
The ALP’s Vision for a Safer, Stronger Guyana
Despite the grim realities, Jacobis did not leave the audience in despair. Instead, he laid out a bold vision for change under the ALP banner, emphasizing:
- Stronger Border Security to curb illegal trafficking of drugs and weapons.
- Reforming the Joint Services with better training, resources, and working conditions.
- Prison Reform to root out corruption and establish true rehabilitation programs.
- Investments in Mental Health Services to address the suicide epidemic and support vulnerable communities.
- Building Trust Between Law Enforcement and Communities to end hostilities and restore faith in the system.
He called on citizens, especially the youth, to demand transparency, accountability, and reform, stressing that the future of Guyana is not in the hands of a few politicians but in the collective hands of its people.
Jacobis ended his speech with a call to action; “Let us be the generation that rises to the challenge, demands accountability, and works tirelessly for a safer, more prosperous nation.”
To the underprivileged, to those left behind by the system, and to those yearning for a better tomorrow, his message was clear, change is not just possible—it is necessary.
