In a scathing public statement posted to social media, Dorwain Bess, head of the Vote Protection and Advocacy Coalition (VPAC), has accused President Irfaan Ali of political “duplicity” and warned that recent actions by the executive risk eroding Guyana’s democratic foundations.
While Bess shared he is of the belief September 1 General and Regional Elections were “legally settled and must be respected,” he emphasised that the decline in voter turnout — from nearly 70% to just over 58% — signals growing disenchantment among the electorate.
“It is a symptom of broader disenchantment, a signal that too many citizens are beginning to question whether their participation truly matters, whether their voices are genuinely heard, and whether governance in Guyana is evolving in a way that reflects their aspirations,” Bess wrote.
The most serious charge leveled by VPAC centers on what it describes as emerging attempts by the central government to bypass Georgetown’s elected municipal authorities and assume unilateral control over urban development in the capital.
“While no one can deny that investment in our capital city is both urgent and necessary, the manner in which such initiatives are undertaken matters greatly,” Bess said. “To bypass these institutions, however inefficient or under-resourced they may be at present, is to undermine the very principles of local democracy.”
Bess warned that such executive overreach risks setting a dangerous precedent that could weaken democratic decentralisation across the country.
“It fosters a culture where decision-making is concentrated in the executive and where citizens, instead of being empowered through their local representatives, are relegated to passive recipients of directives from above,” he said. “This trajectory is contrary to the spirit and letter of our Constitution.”
Highlighting Guyana’s constitutional commitment to local democratic organs, Bess asserted that these institutions are not “an optional courtesy,” but “an integral part of the state” deserving of real autonomy.
He also stressed that the country’s Proportional Representation System was crafted to ensure balance and oversight — not unchecked executive dominance.
“The test of our democracy is not simply whether elections are held and winners declared, but whether the institutions that protect plurality, participation, and balance are respected in both word and deed,” Bess concluded..
President Ali’s decision earlier this week to bypass the duly elected Georgetown City Council—controlled by the opposition A Partnership for National Unity (APNU)—and unilaterally announce a city revitalisation plan- ‘Project Rescue Georgetown’ reflects a troubling disregard for local democratic governance. This move not only undermines constitutional principles of decentralisation but also reinforces concerns that the administration is politicising development rather than fostering inclusive, representative leadership.
VPAC ‘s statement adds to growing concerns from civil society and opposition groups about centralised governance and the potential marginalisation of elected local councils, particularly those not aligned with the ruling People’s Progressive Party (PPP). While the government has yet to formally respond, Bess’s remarks are likely to intensify scrutiny over the administration’s handling of post-election governance and urban policy.
