As Guyana stands on the cusp of unprecedented wealth, with projections of oil revenues potentially soaring toward $100 billion by the time the 10th FPSO is operational, the nation’s future hangs in the balance. ExxonMobil’s ambitious plans, already boasting four FPSOs in place and eyeing eight by 2027, promise a torrent of cash from the Stabroek Block, with government takes expected to hit $9.2 billion annually by 2030. Yet, while the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) has already squandered nearly $5 billion in early oil funds and piled on billions more in foreign loans, creating mayhem through unchecked corruption and mismanagement, international agencies turn a blind eye. Why? They’ve done the math on those staggering projected revenues, figuring the oil spigot will wash away any sins. The World Bank, IMF, and others issue mild reports on governance while greenlighting loans, unbothered by the PPP’s graft because the billions keep flowing.
But the real outrage? The only folks who haven’t crunched those numbers are apparently the Afro-Guyanese leaders. With $100 billion+ at stake over the next five years, enough to transform every community into thriving hubs of opportunity and drag every citizen out of poverty and hardship, they’re too busy squabbling over seats, refusing to compromise, flashing classist attitudes, and nursing insecure paranoia. This infighting is sending their people scattering straight into the hands of those who’ve plotted their downfall for decades, the PPP and its allies. Unreasonable demands, disrespect of colleagues, inability to resolve conflicts seem to be the hallmarks of a leadership that’s selfish, tired, and utterly uncoordinated. The people have noticed.
At some point, we must interrogate the bewildering question of why Afro-Guyanese are running into the arms of the red and the blue. On one side, the PPP’s red banner waves over a landscape of corruption scandals, money laundering, and crony contracts so blatant that Transparency International’s rankings have only dropped Guyana further into the mire. Yet, inexplicably, Afro-Guyanese voters continue to don the red jersey.
And what of the blue? After years of enabling PPP actions against the African community, this faction now presents itself as a savior, distributing gifts with smiles and waves. It is a political performance that, tragically, our people seem to be eating up.
While our community is being pulled in these two directions, our own party leaders prioritize personal egos over collective power. The question was never about who leads; who cares if it is Aubrey Norton, so long as every skilled Black voice is in Parliament, united to fight the PPP tooth and nail? The truth is, the people demanded one thing from us, a complete, unified team to stand and represent them. We couldn’t even offer them that basic decency.
Black leaders have a lot of questions to answer. Will their infighting gift the PPP another term? Will their infighting allow the PPP to hoard oil billions while black communities scrape by? Why ignore the math that shows unity could seize control of those revenues for land restitution, education, and a good life for all Guyanese. Hopefully, there will be no weeping and wailing and gnashing of teeth after this election season wraps on September 1. The people do not easily forget betrayal, especially when $100 billion hangs in the balance. It’s time for Afro-Guyanese leaders to wake up, unite, and hustle for their people’s future, it’s almost too late.
