Opposition Member of Parliament Annette Ferguson has forcefully pushed back against President Irfaan Ali’s recent national address, calling his claims “false,” his leadership “distracted,” and his administration’s messaging “empty political theatrics.”
In a pointed social media statement released Tuesday, Ferguson took direct aim at President Ali’s assertion that the former A Partnership for National Unity and Alliance For Change (APNU+AFC) government implemented over 200 taxes during its 2015–2020 term. She called the accusation not only unsubstantiated but recycled political fiction.
“President Ali also accused the former Coalition government of imposing over 200 taxes on the people and claimed we took away ‘X and Y,’ although he offered no specifics,” Ferguson wrote. “But facts are stubborn things.”
To support her rebuttal, Ferguson cited a 2023 exchange in the National Assembly where she had formally asked Finance Minister Dr. Ashni Singh to enumerate the alleged taxes. According to her, the minister failed to provide any evidence, exposing the claim as political misdirection. (See copy of motion below).
“Two years later, their script remains unchanged, because they have nothing new or truthful to offer,” she noted, adding that the PPP/C administration has “run out of steam.”
Ferguson’s blistering critique extended far beyond taxation. She questioned the government’s moral authority to speak of “trusted leadership,” pointing to unresolved cases that have haunted the nation.
“How can we speak of trusted leadership when we recall the tragic and deeply troubling case of Adriana Younge?” she asked, referencing the mysterious discovery of Younge’s body in a pool weeks after it had reportedly been searched multiple times.
She continued, invoking the still unresolved murders of Isaiah and Joel Henry, and Naresh Singh, accusing the government of silence in the face of national outrage.
The brutal, unsolved murders of Isaiah and Joel Henry in September 2020 sent shockwaves across Guyana, as the teenage cousins were found mutilated in the backlands of Cotton Tree, West Coast Berbice—a crime that ignited national outrage and exposed deep ethnic and political tensions. Similarly, the killing of Naresh Singh remains unresolved, with his family still pleading for justice amidst silence from authorities. Years later, no one has been held accountable for these heinous acts, leaving the victims’ families and the nation grappling with grief, frustration, and a justice system that appears disturbingly indifferent.
“Their families still wait. Guyana still waits,” Ferguson lamented.
The MP’s post framed President Ali’s national address as little more than a “live-streamed distraction” designed to mask rising poverty, growing public dissatisfaction, and deteriorating infrastructure.
“No amount of live streams or blame games can erase the reality that many Guyanese face daily—rising cost of living, inadequate infrastructure in many communities, and the stifling silence on justice for those who need it most,” she said.
Ferguson ended with a call to action, urging voters to reject what she characterized as the PPP’s disingenuous leadership.
“Do not be fooled. Do not be distracted by hollow speeches or political theatrics. Vote wisely. Vote for change. Vote to move Guyana away from the empty promises of the cup,” she declared.
The parliamentarian’s sharp critique adds fuel to the escalating political battle over economic performance, accountability, and trust—issues that are shaping the public mood in unmistakable ways.
