By Roysdale Forde- In one day, our nation teeters on the brink of destiny. The choice we make on September 1st will not merely shape the next five years; it will etch the fate of generations of Guyanese into history. Make no mistake: this sacred mission transcends the sleazy cash handouts, rigged state contracts, and deceitful pledges dangled by the corrupt PPP/C regime. It dwarfs their cynical political maneuvering and fleeting bribes. This is a battle against the entrenched gifters, who have hijacked our homeland for personal gain.
The true calling for every Guyanese, irrespective of race, creed, or locale, is to unite in forging a sustainable future for our cherished land. We must erect a Guyana where wealth is not siphoned by a greedy elite but equitably distributed among all. A republic anchored in unyielding justice, impartial fairness, and genuine equality. A homeland where our descendants inherit pristine ecosystems and thriving opportunities, not a ravaged landscape of polluted waterways and systemic betrayal.
Yet, for more than two decades, the PPP/C has squandered every chance to guide us toward this vision. Instead, they’ve propelled us into an abyss of decay through rampant corruption, divisive tribalism, and myopic greed. Transparent governance? Replaced by shadowy deals and manipulative schemes. Inclusive growth? Subverted by cronyism and partisan favouritism. Environmental stewardship? Trampled underfoot by reckless exploitation that poisons our rivers and forests for quick profits. This mismanagement must be obliterated.
Guyanese, we are a fierce, unyielding, and astute people. We see through the veil when our future is pawned off for electoral survival. We recognise hollow vows and catastrophic leadership failures. Above all, we affirm that Guyana’s sovereignty is not a commodity to be auctioned to the highest bidder.
Consider the scourge of poverty that the PPP/C has perpetuated, a damning indictment of their incompetence and indifference. According to the World Bank’s latest available data, as of 2019, 48.4% of our population languishes below the international poverty line of US$5.50 per day—a staggering figure that ranks among the highest in the region. This blight is far worse in rural areas, where over 80% of the nation’s poor reside, trapped in cycles of deprivation amid sparse infrastructure and neglected communities.
Rural poverty rates soar above 50% in many interior regions, with indigenous communities bearing the brunt—rates exceeding 55% as recently as 2017, per IDB reports. In contrast, urban poverty hovers around 27-36%, yet even there, the urban poor in overcrowded slums face skyrocketing costs and job scarcity under PPP/C’s failed policies. This urban-rural chasm isn’t accidental; it’s the fruit of a regime that funnels oil windfalls to cronies while rural families scrape by on less than basic necessities. How dare they tout “progress” when half our people starve in the shadows of their opulent villas?
As Nelson Mandela, the iconic anti-apartheid revolutionary, declared: “Overcoming poverty is not a task of charity, it is an act of justice. Like Slavery and Apartheid, poverty is not natural. It is man-made and it can be overcome and eradicated by the actions of human beings.” The PPP/C’s man-made poverty epidemic mocks this truth, betraying our most vulnerable. Similarly, Martin Luther King Jr., the tireless civil rights warrior, warned: “Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.” Their selective justice, favouring party loyalists while abandoning rural masses, threatens the very soul of Guyana.
Worse still, their environmental vandalism compounds this injustice. Oil extraction booms, yet, rivers run toxic, forests vanish, and climate vulnerabilities escalate, all under PPP/C’s watch. As internationally renowned environmental activist Wangari Maathai, founder of the Green Belt Movement, asserted: “We owe it to the present and future generations of all species to rise up and walk!” We must heed her call, rejecting a regime that plunders our natural heritage for short-term gains, leaving polluted legacies for our children.
This election transcends petty personalities and partisan squabbles; it is a referendum on principles. Will we capitulate to this rotten status quo, or surge forward to author a bold new era? Our solemn duty binds us not to the PPP/C’s cabal, nor any fleeting faction, but to Guyana’s people and unborn heirs.
Rise above their engineered chaos and fear-mongering. Spurn the politics of paltry handouts and intimidation. Harness our indomitable collective might to oust the PPP/C—for they have desecrated the mission and despoiled the populace.
On September 1st, we cast ballots not merely for change, but for redemption. For a Guyana where opportunity is an inalienable right, not a bestowed favour. Where development safeguards our environment, not devastates it. Where justice is impartial, not weaponized. Where leaders serve humbly, not lord over us.
The hour of reckoning is upon us. Guyana demands excellence. Our youth demand hope. United, we shall seize it.
Let us make history—not for ego, but for every Guyanese soul.
