Political commentator GHK Lall has blasted the governing People’s Progressive Party (PPP) for what he describes as a desperate spree of promises ahead of the September 1 elections, accusing its leaders of offering “jam and cheese” to voters after years of neglect.
In a sharply worded critique, Lall argued that the PPP’s sudden pledge of sweeping benefits — including significant pension increases, transportation grants, and expanded cash transfers for parents — exposes both the party’s failure to deliver during its term in office and its anxiety about the upcoming polls.
“It’s a miracle that it took the mighty PPP leaders so long to admit that they did so badly they now spend so much effort to say that they will do so much good,” Lall wrote. “From the PPP leadership standpoint, the promises distil to this: more money for Guyanese, less money for them.”
Among the measures highlighted by the government are a reported $19,000 pension hike and a $50,000 transportation grant for senior citizens. But Lall questioned how these promises could be financed, given what he said were dwindling oil revenues, global price pressures, and earlier claims by the government that funds were limited.
“For five years, pensioners in an overpowering oil economy had to make do with a drop ($4k) here, and a bigger drop ($5k) there. Now they are being blown away by $19,000 all in one shot. This may be too much for the systems of 70,000 plus Guyanese geriatrics,” he charged.
He further contended that parents are being lured with “buckets of cash” for children at a time when the government had previously funneled billions into public works while allocating comparatively little to social infrastructure.
“Since so much was done in the years before these elections, there shouldn’t be these anxiety-filled, desperation-charged emergency relief packages now promised,” Lall argued, insisting that the new promises only expose how the PPP “ratted out on the people” during its tenure.
The outspoken columnist also targeted Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo, questioning his credibility and mocking his weekly press briefings. “Even the dumbest Guyanese won’t make the mistake of uttering credibility and his name in the same sentence,” Lall said.
According to him, the PPP is flooding voters with promises not out of benevolence but out of fear of September 1. “The US had 9/11. The PPP is staring at 9/1,” he warned.
Ultimately, Lall dismissed the government’s pre-election pledges as little more than vote-buying dressed up as policy. “Flood pensioners and parents with cash. A cheap cellphone bought to prove gratitude. Waking up and promising. It’s Xmas. My bad again — elections,” he concluded.
