As President Irfaan Ali and the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) work to project an image of widespread public support, they have sought endorsements from figures within the Opposition, including the son-in-law of People’s National Congress (PNC) Founder Leader, Forbes Burnham.
In response, former Georgetown Mayor and prominent political figure Pt. Ubraj Narine has firmly shut down any speculation that he might follow suit. His unequivocal stance ends any notion that he would cross the floor in what many see as a self-serving move by the others, rather than one grounded in the national interest—especially given the PPP’s well-documented record of corruption and widespread marginalisation.
The 2024 Transparency International Corruption Perception Index highlighted a troubling trend: corruption is on the rise in Guyana. Other international reports have also pointed to alarmingly high levels of poverty in oil-rich Guyana, increasing rates of child malnutrition. There is also growing public frustration over widespread marginalisation and exclusion from the country’s oil wealth under the PPP’s management.
Against this backdrop, Pt. Ubraj Narine issued a sharply worded public statement, declaring his unwavering opposition to President Irfaan Ali and the People’s Progressive Party (PPP), amid speculation that he might endorse the administration for a second term.
“Let me make this unequivocally clear: I will never endorse President Ali or the PPP government,” Narine stated in a statement addressed to the media, responding to recent inquiries about his political stance. That statement appears in his Satya Prakash column today.
Describing the PPP administration as “riddled with deception and failed promises,” Narine accused the government of misleading the public with “hollow rhetoric and divisive politics.”
He said the leadership has consistently eroded the values of transparency, accountability, and equity.
Narine, who identifies as a current member of the People’s National Congress Reform (PNC/R), reaffirmed his commitment to fighting for a “just and unified Guyana.” However, he was careful to stress that his political loyalty lies not with any single party but with the nation and its people.
“Nothing stops me from supporting a new or any other political movement if I believe it holds the vision and integrity to truly serve the people of this country,” he asserted. “My loyalty is to Guyana first—not to personalities, not to partisan convenience.”
In a direct challenge to the PPP, Narine declared his intention to oppose the ruling party “at all costs,” citing its continued mismanagement and neglect of ordinary citizens’ voices. He called for a renewed national effort built on “inclusiveness, truth, and progress.”
“My purpose remains unchanged: to serve all the people of Guyana, regardless of race, class, or political persuasion,” he wrote. “I believe in a nation where opportunity is not hoarded by a few but shared by all; where leadership is not about control, but about service.”
In closing, Narine emphasised that no political pressure or misinformation campaign would sway his position.
“Let this serve as a clear statement to those with questions, doubts, or deliberate misinformation: I will never endorse the PPP, and I will never compromise on my duty to put the people of Guyana first.”
Narine, a former Staff Sergeant in the Guyana Defence Force and Justice of the Peace, previously served as Mayor of Georgetown and remains a vocal figure in the national political landscape.
