In a bold and timely intervention, political commentator GHK Lall has urged the fractured opposition forces—the People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR) and the Alliance For Change (AFC)—to put aside their deepening leadership divide and rally behind veteran statesman Carl Greenidge as a consensus presidential candidate for the 2025 General and Regional Elections.
Writing in a sharply worded op-ed, Lall warned that the Opposition is “floundering massively,” caught in a stalemate between supporters of current PNCR leader Aubrey Norton and AFC leader Nigel Hughes. With elections approaching, Lall argued that this leadership impasse not only weakens any serious challenge to the ruling People’s Progressive Party (PPP) but also undermines public confidence in the democratic process itself.
“Even uber competitor Dr. Bharrat Jagdeo would endorse my recommendation,” Lall wrote, suggesting that an uncontested race would reduce national elections to a symbolic formality, one with little political legitimacy.
A Credible Alternative in Carl Greenidge
Lall proposed Carl Greenidge—a seasoned economist, diplomat, and former finance minister—as the ideal compromise candidate. With an extensive record spanning ministerial leadership, CARICOM representation, and a central role in Guyana’s legal battle over its border with Venezuela, Greenidge, he argued, commands respect across party lines.
Describing Greenidge as “a PNC luminary and a PPP border stalwart,” Lall underscored the rare bipartisan trust the candidate has earned. “There is no more arduous and minefield-laden job in Guyana than the tightrope that Mr. Greenidge walks,” he said, referring to Greenidge’s ability to serve under both PNC and PPP administrations with distinction.
Support for Consensus Builds
Lall’s call comes as internal coalition talks seem to be flattering even as public opinion favours coalition politics to challenge the PPP. In March, AFC Leader Nigel Hughes publicly expressed his willingness to step aside in favour of a unifying figure. “I’m personally prepared to step aside from the presidential candidacy in favour of a third-party candidate who can unite the opposition for the good of the country,” Hughes said.
That statement, now echoed by Lall’s endorsement of Greenidge, points to a growing appetite within opposition circles for a fresh, unifying figure capable of attracting both coalition insiders and disillusioned voters.
And that disillusionment appears to be growing. Recent credible poll revealed that 62% of respondents believe Guyana needs new national leadership. Confidence in both President Irfaan Ali and Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo has plunged, with only 29% and 25% of respondents, respectively, expressing trust in their leadership.
The poll also dealt a blow to PNCR leader Aubrey Norton, showing 69% opposition to his continued leadership of the A Partnership for National Unity and Alliance for Change (APNU+AFC) coalition. Only 31% expressed support for Norton, raising doubts about his viability as a national candidate. Both Norton and Hughes are believed to be aware of these sobering numbers, which are likely influencing the ongoing discussions over a compromise candidate.
Greenidge Seen as a Stabilising Force
Lall argued that, in contrast to the uncertainty surrounding Norton and Hughes, Greenidge’s “wash of experience” and national recognition could energize voters and re-establish credibility within the coalition. “Though I don’t know the man, have never had occasion to speak with him,” Lall wrote, “I think that he is a name to draw more than the regular crowd.”
A Greenidge candidacy, he suggested, would also shift the dynamic with the PPP and General Secretary Bharrat Jagdeo. “What is Jagdeo going to do? Denounce him? Disparage his work?” Lall asked, highlighting Greenidge’s current role as a trusted PPP adviser on the Guyana-Venezuela border matter.
A Campaign in Need of Energy
Lall concluded with a sharp critique of the current political climate, describing the 2025 campaign season as “flat to boring, anemic to asinine.” Apart from the “energies and fight” of [Working People’s Alliance’s] WPA’s Dr. David Hinds, he said, the race lacks vitality. He likened Jagdeo’s unchecked dominance to “a combination of King Kong and Godzilla and the Guyanese version of a political Hannibal Lecter.”
For Lall, Carl Greenidge represents the best hope to restore balance and competitiveness to Guyana’s democracy. “There! I have done my elections work,” he quipped, “now I need to collect from GECOM.”
Many voices across Guyana’s political and civil landscape have been urging the AFC and PNC to put aside their differences and prioritise national unity. There is growing public support for the formation of a coalition led by a strong, consensus candidate—someone capable of effectively challenging the PPP at the polls and steering the country toward a more inclusive society.
This unified front is seen as critical to ensuring better governance and more equitable management of the country’s oil wealth, so that its benefits reach the wider population rather than a select few.
