The Office of Former President David Granger has issued a sharp rebuttal to what it calls a series of “erroneous and malicious” claims published in a June 26, 2025 article by journalist Abena Rockcliffe in the Guyana Standard. The article, titled “If Granger means well, he must do for Norton what Jagdeo did for Ali,” accused the David Granger/Moses Nagamootoo’s administration of being an “incompetent, arrogant, over-promising, under-delivering cabal.”
In a formal response, Granger’s office strongly rejected that characterisation and defended the legacy of the A Partnership for National Unity + Alliance For Change (APNU+AFC) Coalition government, which held office from 2015 to 2020. The statement sought to correct the public record and reaffirm the Coalition’s accomplishments across a broad range of national priorities—from education and governance to public health and security.
Refuting the Narrative of Failure
The article in question argued that APNU+AFC’s failures continue to burden Opposition Leader and presidential hopeful Aubrey Norton, who has not distanced himself from the Granger era. Rockcliffe noted the political silence of key APNU+AFC figures after 2020 and described Granger’s administration as power-hungry and dysfunctional, suggesting that this reputation may now haunt Norton’s political future.
Granger’s office, however, firmly pushed back, outlining a series of landmark achievements it says are being deliberately ignored or distorted.
“The APNU+AFC coalition entered office in 2015 and aimed at repairing the damage caused by a decade of criminal violence known as ‘The Troubles’, restoring local democracy and reassuring citizens that the government was committed to raising their standard of living and safeguarding Guyana’s territorial integrity,” the release stated.
Key Achievements Highlighted
Granger’s administration pointed to several firsts under his leadership, including:
- The Public Education Transportation Service (PETS): providing free school transport via bicycles, boats, and buses.
- Restoration of Local Government Elections: held just 10 months into office after a 20-year hiatus under the PPP.
- Establishment of Four Hinterland Capital Towns: Bartica, Mabaruma, Mahdia, and Lethem, each with elected councils.
- Rapid COVID-19 Response: including the construction of the Infectious Disease Hospital.
- Security Sector Reform: in collaboration with the UK and the creation of NANA and NISA to combat narco-trafficking.
- Public Sector Strengthening: creation of the Bertram Collins College of the Public Service, along with increases in pensions and wages.
- Youth and Social Development Programs: such as the Guyana Youth Corps, SLED, and the Amna Ally Children & Family Care Centre.
- Environmental Initiatives: including the Green State Development Strategy and the formation of the Corps of Wardens.
Fiscal Constraints and Oil Exclusion
The statement also noted that APNU+AFC’s spending amounted to G$934 billion during its term, curtailed significantly by the 2018 No-Confidence Motion and exclusion from oil revenues. In contrast, the current PPP/C government has reportedly spent over G$4.58 trillion with access to petroleum funds.
“The Coalition faced severe challenges but it was far from being an ‘incompetent, arrogant, over-promising, under-delivering cabal,’” the former president’s office declared.
Final Word
By directly responding to Rockcliffe’s critique, the Office of the Former President has sought not only to defend its record but to challenge the narrative that its legacy is a political liability. It also signals a renewed effort by Granger to re-engage in the national conversation amid shifting dynamics within the PNCR.
Whether this public exchange shifts perceptions—of the past or of the present—remains to be seen. But the former president’s office has made one thing clear: it will not allow history to be written without a fight.
See statement below:
Statement from Office of the Former President, David Granger
The Office of the former President has taken note of an article published in the Guyana Standard on 26 June, 2025, under the caption: “If Granger means well, he must do for Norton what Jagdeo did for Ali.” The article made several erroneous and malicious statements against the former President, claiming that: “His regime came across as an incompetent, arrogant, over-promising, under-delivering cabal …”.
The office of the former President wishes to reaffirm that the APNU+AFC coalition entered office in 2015 and aimed at repairing the damage caused by a decade of criminal violence known as ‘The Troubles’, restoring local democracy and reassuring citizens that the government was committed to raising their standard of living and safeguarding Guyana’s territorial integrity.
President Granger responded to low attendance and poor performance in primary schools by introducing the Public Education Transportation Service (PETS) − the first such service in this country’s history − which delivered free transportation by providing bicycles, boats and buses.
President Granger’s restoration of local government elections (LGE) ten months after the APNU+AFC entered office in May 2015 reversed the PPP’s refusal to hold LGE for 20 years. Granger’s administration created four capital towns − at Bartica, Mabaruma, Mahdia and Lethem − with elected town councils to administer the hinterland and to replace the PPP’s undemocratic IMCs.
President Granger’s prompt and positive response to the COVID-19 epidemic resulted in the enforcement of effective measures and the establishment of the ‘Infectious Disease Hospital’ − the first of such in this country’s history.
President Granger’s response to the murderous ‘Troubles’, maritime piracy and narco-trafficking which prevailed under the PPPC administration resulted in an agreement with the UK Government to restore the Security Sector Reform Action Plan. President Granger established the National Anti-Narcotics Agency (NANA) and the National Intelligence and Security Agency (NISA) to suppress transnational narco-trafficking. However, the PPP administration abolished NANA and NISA.
The APNU+AFC administration inherited a decimated and demoralised Public Service from the PPPC administration. Granger’s response was to establish the Bertram Collins College of the Public Service (BCCPS) − the first such in this country’s history. The APNU+AFC Coalition measurably increased the State Old Age Pension (SOAP) and public sector salaries and wages.
The PPP’s unbroken, 23-year administration divided the country. Granger’s response to the social crisis was to mainstream social cohesion in government policies and initiate programmes − such as the Sustainable Livelihood and Entrepreneurial Development (SLED) programme − and establish the Amna Ally Children & Family Care Centre (CFCC) in Sophia. President Granger purposefully established the Guyana Youth Corps aimed at providing young people who were not in education employment or training (i.e NEET) with skills for self-employment.
Granger emphasised the importance of protecting the environment by promulgating the Green State Development Strategy (GSDS) and establishing the Department of the Environment and the Corps of Wardens to inspect mines for safety in order to protect miners’ lives.
APNU+AFC governmental expenditure reached only G$934 billion but was curtailed by the ‘No-Confidence Motion’ passed with the support of an AFC parliamentarian in the National Assembly in 2018. Thereafter, the Coalition was prevented from utilising funds from the petroleum industry or accessing funds from donor countries. The current PPPC administration has had access to petroleum revenues and, so far, expended G$4.58 trillion. Indeed, the Coalition faced severe challenges but it was far from being an “incompetent, arrogant, over-promising, under-delivering cabal.”
