Former parliamentarian and Minister of Government Annette Ferguson has issued a forceful critique of the Irfaan Ali Administration’s recent activities in Tiger Bay, questioning both the intent and planning behind the government’s pledge to transform the area into a “model community.”
In a letter to the media, Ferguson said she was deeply concerned that despite decades of opportunities—under both past and current People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) governments—Tiger Bay remains one of several communities still grappling with entrenched poverty, inadequate housing, and unsanitary conditions.
Ferguson noted that even during the PPP/C’s 23 consecutive years in office before 2015, little was done to meaningfully address the harsh living realities in Tiger Bay. While some residents received house lots, she said many were unable to access financing due to restrictive banking requirements that successive governments have failed to confront.
She added that the A Partnership for National Unity and Alliance for Change (APNU+AFC) Coalition Government attempted to initiate supportive programmes, but their progress was cut short as first oil was achieved in December 2019 and national elections loomed months later.
Ferguson emphasised the contrast between persistent poverty and the country’s rapidly expanding oil revenue. Citing the latest Bank of Guyana report on the Natural Resource Fund (NRF), she highlighted that Guyana has earned just over US$7.8 billion in oil revenues since production began in December 2019. Yet, she argued, those billions have not translated into improved living conditions for vulnerable communities.
“Despite unprecedented oil wealth, the immediate needs of the poor remain largely unaddressed,” she said, pointing to Tiger Bay, Albouystown, and Agricola as visible examples of communities still living “in squalor and under unsanitary conditions,” even as more than G$100 billion has reportedly been invested in the housing sector.
The former minister questioned the substance behind the weekend outreach in Tiger Bay, during which residents were promised playgrounds, upgrades, and “model community” status. She asked whether any feasibility study or development blueprint exists, where a playground could realistically be located in the congested settlement, and how redevelopment would proceed if existing homes are privately owned.
Residents, she said, were treated to a celebratory event—likely funded through taxpayer money and private sponsorship—but “once the music stopped and the lights dimmed,” the fundamental issues remained unchanged.
The United Nations’ 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) form a universal blueprint adopted in 2015 for ending poverty, protecting the planet, and ensuring peace and prosperity by 2030. They cover global priorities ranging from quality education and clean energy to reduced inequalities and climate action, as outlined in the UN’s 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development (United Nations, 2015). Ferguson grounded her criticism in this framework, noting that several goals—such as No Poverty, Zero Hunger, Quality Education, Clean Water and Sanitation, and Sustainable Cities—are directly relevant to communities like Tiger Bay. However, she cautioned that Guyana is unlikely to achieve all 17 SDGs by 2030, especially those critical to disadvantaged communities, despite the inflow of billions in oil revenue.
Ferguson also criticised a recent visit to Tiger Bay by Minister of Local Government and Regional Development Priya Manickchand. A widely circulated photo showed the minister posing with half-dressed children—an image that many Guyanese found inappropriate. Ferguson argued that leaders must exercise greater responsibility, especially in settings involving children.
She concluded her statement with a pointed warning that Tiger Bay residents have heard similar promises before. “The residents of Tiger Bay have received numerous promises from President Ali since 2020,” Ferguson said. “Will they be made to believe yet another? Time will tell.” She urged the government to move beyond political showmanship and deliver concrete, measurable improvements to the lives of those in Guyana’s most underserved communities.
