The We Invest in Nationhood (WIN) party ended its election campaign on Saturday night with a massive rally at the Marriott Beach Front in Kingston, where thousands of energised supporters danced, waved flags, and celebrated what leaders described as the dawn of a new era in Guyana’s politics.
Party Leader and Presidential Candidate, Azruddin Mohamed, told the crowd that a WIN government would represent all Guyanese, condemning the governing party for presiding over unprecedented resources while leaving the majority of citizens behind.
“I don’t look at race, I don’t look at face, religion, etc. I am for every single one of you in this country, everyone,” Mohamed declared to roaring applause. He stressed that WIN is the only truly multi-ethnic party in Guyana and insisted its growing support across the regions and races is proof that victory is within reach.
Mohamed also used the platform to formally introduce his Prime Ministerial running mate, former A Partnership for National Unity and Alliance for Change (APNU+AFC) Member of Parliament and minister Tabitha Sarabo-Halley.
In an impassioned address, Sarabo-Halley told supporters that the PPP’s era of empty promises has come to an end. “Hope has returned to Guyana and not as a slogan, but as a living force,” she said.
“It is the belief that we the people hold the power to transform our nation. It is the conviction that integrity, that justice, that fairness and opportunity can define governance in Guyana. It is the faith that together we can break free from the old politics of division and build a Guyana where everyone has a place and everyone has a chance,” she added.
Sarabo-Halley described WIN as more than a political party, portraying it as a movement that has proven the struggles and voices of ordinary citizens truly matter.
Targeting Region Four, the country’s largest voting bloc, Mohamed said WIN needs 130,000 votes from Demerara-Mahaica to secure a win. He called on “first-time voters and everybody fed up with the red (PPP) and green (APNU) party” to turn out in large numbers.
The WIN leader also unveiled sweeping policy commitments, promising immediate relief for workers, families, and vulnerable groups. Among them:
Wages and Salaries: Raise the national minimum wage from $100,000 to $150,000 and grant a 50 percent salary increase to all public servants, with similar improvements encouraged in the private sector.
Tax Relief: Cut VAT from 14 percent to 10 percent, reduce PAYE from 25 percent to 20 percent, and raise the tax-free income threshold to $200,000.
Social Benefits: Increase pensions from $41,000 to $100,000; raise public assistance and disability benefits from $22,000 to $50,000; and boost the “Because We Care” school grant from $55,000 to $100,000.
Economic Development: Establish a national development bank to provide 0 percent interest loans for small businesses, single mothers, and farmers.
Housing: Reduce the price of house lots by 40 percent and construct “thousands of free homes for vulnerable citizens.” Mohamed noted that he has already built more homes than the government’s “Men on Mission” programme.
Adding a touch of personal flare was the endorsement of son by father. In a heartfelt speech, Nazar Mohamed, father of presidential hopeful Azruddin Mohamed, rose to the stage to endorse his son’s bid for leadership, describing him as a man shaped by resilience and an unwavering dedication to the people of Guyana. Addressing the crowd, the elder Mohamed spoke not only of a candidate, but of a son moulded by the very principles he believes are vital to the nation’s progress.
“My heart overflows with joy and gratitude to witness so many of you gathered here,” he said, “not only to stand with my son, but to stand with a movement that unites us all, a movement committed to bringing the change our beloved country has long awaited.”
Reflecting on his own childhood, Mohamed shared vivid memories of growing up in deep poverty on the Essequibo Coast. He recalled living with 26 relatives in a cramped 700-square-foot home and carrying school books in plastic bags for lack of proper backpacks. From those difficult beginnings, he said, he learned the lessons of hard work, perseverance, integrity, and service — values he and his wife have strived to instill in their children.
As fireworks lit up the Kingston seafront and music carried into the night, WIN leaders declared that Guyana was standing at the threshold of transformation. Mohamed closed with a message of unity and resolve, telling supporters, “On Monday, we will make history together.” The rally wrapped up at the stroke of midnight on Saturday, ending in full compliance with the law but leaving the crowd energized and hopeful for the days ahead.
