In a blistering speech that scorched the PPP government’s credibility and character, APNU Vice Presidential candidate Ganish Mahipaul tore into the ruling party’s broken promises, moral failures, and alleged criminal associations, delivering one of the most savage political takedowns of the 2025 campaign season. Speaking before a crowd of energized supporters, Mahipaul stripped away the PPP’s polished PR façade and exposed what he framed as a legacy of deception, dysfunction, and disgrace.
“Every major promise they made in 2020 was a lie,” Mahipaul thundered. “Concessions for large-scale livestock farming, promise not delivered. Compensation and protection for displaced fishermen, promise not delivered. A politically independent oil framework, another broken promise. An arms-length sovereign wealth fund? A regulatory system free of political hands? Lies. All lies.”
Mahipaul ridiculed the government’s pledges as symptoms of “Ozempic politics”, a reference to the diabetes drug often associated with cosmetic weight loss, suggesting that PPP leaders, several of whom are purportedly using the ozempic weight loss drug, were more concerned with appearances than substance. “I’d rather be fat and honest than slim and lying,” he said, drawing applause.
But it was when Mahipaul turned to the PPP’s list of candidates that his rhetoric reached its most explosive. With a printout in hand and Google as his weapon, Mahipaul recited a stunning list of individuals with alleged criminal or scandalous pasts, many of whom are currently representing the ruling party.
“Jason Abdulla, convicted. Irfaan Ali, fraud. James Bond, land grab. Alister Charlie, accused of molestation. Nigel Dharamlall, accused of abuse against an Indigenous minor. Kwame McCoy, caught in a sexual solicitation scandal with a minor. Joseph Hamilton, self-confessed violence. Anil Nandlall, embroiled in corruption. Barry Ramsaran, wanted to ‘strip and slap’ a woman. Peter Ramsaroop, allegedly spied on a teenager. The list goes on,” Mahipaul said.
He estimated that 25% of PPP candidates have faced legal troubles. “A whole quarter. Wicked. Stink. Dirty,” he declared, to a roar from the crowd.
Mahipaul’s fiercest blow came with his attack on Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo. He read aloud from a 10-page affidavit by Jagdeo’s ex-wife, Varshnie Singh, who accused him of financial abuse, psychological control, and weaponizing state institutions to persecute her. “This is the man who says he loves women? He abused the First Lady in office and used government ministers to do it,” Mahipaul said. “We cannot put abusers at the front stage of our governance structure.”
The VP candidate then issued a searing call to Indigenous Guyanese to reject the PPP for nominating Nigel Dharamlall. “The entire Indigenous community should rebel. This is not just politics, this is disrespect of the highest order,” he said. “We will reopen that case, and if Dharamlall has to go to jail and pick up soap, so be it.”
Turning to the education sector, Mahipaul dismissed the government’s claims of “transformation” as nothing more than cosmetic upgrades. “Yes, we see roads. But are they proper roads? We see schools, but many are falling apart on delivery. What we don’t see is investment in our children’s development, no guidance, no counseling, no vision,” he said. Mahipaul promised that an APNU government would embed counseling services in every primary and secondary school to address the root causes of crime and societal decay.
He closed his speech with a promise to the nation’s most vulnerable. Ten-day workers would be converted to permanent staff and receive $90,000 monthly. Small contractors would be held to higher standards but paid fairly. Bribery, he said, would end. “With Aubrey Norton in office, every cent must work for the people. No more fat cats. No more dirty deals.”
Mahipaul’s speech was a scorched-earth indictment of an administration he framed as corrupt, abusive, and unfit to lead. Whether the PPP can withstand the blowback from these allegations remains to be seen. But one thing is certain, Mahipaul has thrown down the gauntlet, and Guyanese voters are now the jury.
