The Alliance For Change (AFC) has strongly criticised the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) government for allegedly concealing crucial information regarding Venezuela’s ongoing provocations and its intentions toward Guyana’s sovereignty. With mounting concerns over a series of aggressive incidents between the two nations, the AFC is demanding transparency and answers from the government, accusing it of weak leadership in the face of external threats.
Since the beginning of 2025, tensions between Guyana and Venezuela have escalated significantly. In February, the Guyana Defense Force (GDF) patrol unit was viciously attacked along the Cuyuni River, and just weeks later, in March, a Venezuelan patrol vessel, the Guaiqueri PO-11, brazenly entered Guyana’s waters. Despite the gravity of these incidents, the government has failed to issue any comprehensive reports, leaving the public anxious and in the dark about the security of their nation.
The AFC, in a press statement, condemned the PPP government for what it views as a lack of transparency, asserting that the public deserves to know how these incidents were allowed to occur and what measures will be put in place to prevent them in the future. The party also drew attention to the unresolved investigation into the tragic helicopter crash of December 2023, which claimed the lives of five heroic individuals.
“Is the PPP hiding something from the people of Guyana? It is starting to appear that way,” the AFC asked, furthering contending that “it is starting to appear that way.”
The AFC’s criticisms intensified following alarming comments made by Minister of Home Affairs, Robeson Benn, during a police conference on March 13, 2025. Benn, known for his outspoken and controversial remarks, stated that Venezuela plans to hold elections for a governor and officials of the disputed Essequibo region by May 23. Benn further warned that any individual, whether Venezuelan or Guyanese, who assumes the role of governor in Essequibo would face charges of treason.
Benn also referred to the presence of “sleepers” among the Venezuelan population in Guyana—individuals who could potentially pose a threat to national security. While his statements raised serious concerns, the AFC believes that the PPP has failed to adequately address the implications of these warnings, with neither President Irfaan Ali nor Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo speaking publicly on the matter.
Benn may be a rambler, but on this occasion, he has sounded the alarm bells as loud as he could, yet it is clear that the government is turning a blind eye, the AFC said. The party said it is troubling, in the face of these threats the President and Vice President “are obviously more focused on getting re-elected than on protecting our sovereignty and preparing Guyanese for something awful on the horizon.”
The AFC also expressed concern that, while the PPP/C leadership is perceived to have personal stakes abroad in safer, foreign lands, ordinary Guyanese will be left to face the consequences of Venezuela’s actions. The statement calls for the government to stop downplaying the severity of the situation and to immediately inform and prepare the nation for potential threats to its territorial integrity.
Flaying the PPP’s failures in effectively handling the Venezuelan aggression, the AFC insists that now, more than ever, Guyana requires strong leadership and full transparency to safeguard its future.
