GEORGETOWN, GUYANA – A recent credible national poll has sent a clear message to Guyana’s political establishment; voters are ready for new leadership. With the country facing mounting concerns over the rising cost of living, underperforming public services, and allegations of corruption, both the ruling and opposition parties are under increasing pressure to rethink their leadership and priorities.
According to the poll, 62% of respondents believe Guyana needs a new national leader, while only 38% believe the current leadership should remain. This comes as confidence in President Irfaan Ali and Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo hovers at low levels. Specifically, only 29% of respondents expressed confidence in President Ali’s leadership, while just 25% said they believed Jagdeo represents the interests of ordinary Guyanese.
Within the opposition, the demand for new leadership is even more striking. Among opposition-aligned respondents, 69% said they do not support Aubrey Norton continuing as leader of the APNU+AFC coalition. Just 31% expressed support for his leadership going forward.
The Inference made is that although the poll does not disaggregate this result by age group, it is reasonable to infer that younger voters are even more likely to support a leadership change, for two key reasons; Global and regional trends show younger voters are less loyal to traditional political parties and more likely to call for generational change and secondly, in Guyana, youth migration, political disengagement, and economic dissatisfaction are disproportionately high. These factors suggest that the desire for new political leadership is particularly strong among voters under 35.
If accurate, this paints a troubling picture for both major parties, as younger voters make up a growing share of the electorate.
The poll also found that trust in state institutions and governance is at a low point. Only 21% of respondents said they trust public procurement processes, and fewer than 30% believe government development programs are being implemented fairly across ethnic and regional lines.
Meanwhile, more than 60% of respondents believe that the benefits of Guyana’s oil economy are not reaching ordinary citizens, but are instead being captured by political elites and foreign companies. This perception cuts across ethnic and regional lines and reflects a broad sense of economic exclusion, despite Guyana being one of the fastest-growing economies in the world.
Among undecided voters, nearly 80% said they would consider voting for an independent or new-party candidate if they were credible and focused on national development. This is a strong signal that traditional ethnic-based party loyalty may be breaking down—and that Guyanese voters are open to alternatives.
As the next election approaches, the poll suggests that both the PPP and APNU+AFC will need to reckon with a population that is more critical, more informed, and more eager for inclusive, transparent, and transformative leadership.
