By Roysdale Forde S.C, M.P- In what can only be described as a troubling misuse of public resources, the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) administration has once again raised serious concerns about its commitment to democratic principles and responsible governance. It has come to light that the government has spent millions in taxpayers’ money to retain an American public relations and lobbying firm—Continental Strategy. This contract was not secured to advance Guyana’s national interests or to improve the lives of its citizens.
Instead, the firm was hired to orchestrate a politically motivated smear campaign against a private citizen, Azruddin Mohamed. Mr. Mohamed has declared his intention to contest the upcoming general and regional elections, scheduled for September 1, 2025.
This deeply disturbing revelation highlights the extent to which those in power appear willing to manipulate state resources for partisan political gain. That the machinery of government would be turned against a citizen for exercising a constitutionally protected right signals a dangerous erosion of democratic norms.
One must ask: how did we, as a nation, descend to this level of political degradation? Were it not for a firm belief in the enduring power of justice and accountability, one might conclude that under the current regime, Guyana risks losing its moral and democratic compass entirely. Yet, there is still hope, found in the will of the people and in our collective resolve to confront these injustices. Guyana must rise above these abuses and reclaim a future grounded in fairness, transparency, and the rule of law.
We must, as a nation, unequivocally denounce the PPP/C administration’s reckless use of public funds in pursuit of political dominance. At a time when families in Sophia, Linden, West Berbice, and across Guyana’s remote regions struggle daily—grappling with crumbling infrastructure, unfulfilled promises, and the crushing burden of generational poverty—this regime has chosen to divert national resources not toward development, but toward an international propaganda campaign targeting a political rival.
This decision exposes a government whose priorities lie not with the people it was elected to serve, but with preserving power at any cost. It is an affront to every citizen striving for a better life, and a stark reminder of how far the PPP/C has drifted from its duty to the nation. It is clear that, the government’s decision to engage foreign lobbyists to peddle distortions and outright falsehoods about an opposition figure is a synthesis of an attempt to silence dissent, the practice of political exclusion, on the part of the PPP/C, and an attempt to manipulate international perception.
There must be an aggressive coherent strategy to demonstrate the truth and real reality in Guyana. Because those United States congressmen and congresswomen, who are not particularly familiar with the nuances of our local politics, are being deliberately misled by the PPP/C government. It is a shame but true. Imagine the government is prepared to use our border controversy with Venezuela in a deceitful way to stay in power. It is a calculated, malicious act that reeks of political desperation and authoritarian instinct.
And it comes at a time when the people of Guyana are crying out—not for slick PR campaigns—but for food on their tables, jobs for their children, and a future they can believe in. This betrays the PPP/C pretense and parade about its commitment to notions of democracy and transparency on the international stage, parading around at summits and in front of cameras as a shining example of Caribbean progress.
No amount of foreign spin can disguise the brutal irony of a government that spends more energy on defaming political opponents than on uplifting its citizens. The sheer hypocrisy of it all. Inspite of certain revelations and documents on this matter, President Ali has denied it. And as is to be expected, the Attorney General, Anil Nandlall commented. He said that social media posts from senior US lawmakers carry weight and reflect serious policy positions, not random commentary.
The question is: how did those lawmakers get the contents of those tweets in the first place? The contract between the PPP/C government and that firm said that the client (the government) shall provide all the information to the agency. So, it stands to reason that it is very possible that, the firm got its information from the PPP/C. It is just stunning that the government actually thinks Guyanese are fools.
This latest scandal should outrage every Guyanese, regardless of political affiliation. Because if the state can target one citizen today, it can target anyone tomorrow.; this is the key point of this column. It is a dangerous precedent that undermines every value this republic was founded upon. Elections must be a contest of ideas, not a war of propaganda funded with public money.
Where is the transparency? Where is the accountability? Who authorised this deal? By doing this deal, the PPP/C has given itself a clear political advantage while throwing millions of taxpayers’ dollars to a well-connected lobbying firm thousands of miles away. I have to say that this and so many other negatives demonstrate the uncaring and crass nature of the incumbent regime.
Meanwhile, across Guyana, the majority still live in vulnerable, underdeveloped and poor communities. The nation’s oil wealth flows freely to the powerful few, while the masses scrape by, their dreams dimmed by the stark reality of inequality. Schools are overcrowded, hospitals under-resourced, and communities plagued by crime and neglect. But somehow, there is always money for PR campaigns, ribbon-cuttings, and foreign consultants.
In his inaugural speech, President Ali declared, “tomorrow is the dawning of a new day, a day when hope, opportunity, love for country and people must triumph over division and hate.” He also promised to “rally around our national flag.” Sadly, those noble words ring hollow when juxtaposed with the daily sufferings of the majority of the Guyanese people. On every television newscast and in every newspaper, we are bombarded with images and accounts of the populace and their harsh living conditions. Guyana’s poverty has been rarely mentioned in government public relations initiatives.
Again, Guyana’s oil wealth is not trickling down to, or shared by, the vast majority of citizens living below the poverty line. Reports are replete with evidence of a high level of unemployment, systemic poverty, lack of basic healthcare facilities, and of an education system in dire need of repair and funding. Guyana still has one of the highest levels of poverty in the Caribbean, and the income distribution is highly unequal.
At least half Guyana’s population lives below the poverty line, estimated at US$5.50 per day. At least 35 percent of the population lives on less than U$$3 per day, considered extreme poverty. Economic inequality is a long-standing issue in Guyana, and one that has worsened in the recent past due to increasingly divergent growth paths: within GNI per capita, inequality was pushed up by enclaves like mining and sugar, while agriculture, rice and services, including tourism, were slower to recover from COVID.
The PPP/C cannot claim to defend democracy while subverting it behind closed doors. It cannot claim to speak for the people while weaponising their money against them. It cannot claim patriotism while hiring foreigners to demonise Guyanese citizens. What we are witnessing is a form of crystallization of political exclusion influenced by a self- righteous belief by the government that it has absolute monopoly over power in Guyana. This has severe consequences for our fragile democracy and the sustainable development of our nation. We cannot afford this crassness on the part of this dictatorial regime.
The international community must take note. I Guyanese electorate must respond with the force democracy allows: at the ballot box.
Enough is enough. The days of using foreign money, foreign firms, and foreign lies to hold on to power must come to an end. On September1, 2025, we must come together as a massive intense and intelligent force and strike the PPP/C from power. There is no other way to allow hope to come alive in us and to move this nation forward.
