It is a peculiar and painful spectacle to watch a political chameleon at work, especially one whose manipulations are so blatant, yet so effective. The case of Minister Priya Manickchand is a masterclass in political duplicity, and it is high time we call it for what it is. The recent, deeply disturbing episode involving her online conduct demands that we look past the carefully constructed facade and ask, who is the real Priya Manickchand?
The question is forced upon us by her own actions. It was with a sense of profound dismay that the public witnessed the minister’s posting of nearly naked images of children, followed by a response that was not one of contrition, but of calculated deflection. When accountability loomed, she swiftly pivoted to posting the image of her 23yr old Black PR aide, a person with whom she allegedly “sometimes” disagrees. The message was as transparent as it was manipulative: See? Don’t blame me. It was my PR team. How can I be held to account?*
The galling success of this strategy is only highlighted by the contrasting fate of Dr. Terrence Campbell, who was publicly flogged and forced to abase himself for the mundane sin of posting a Village Voice article about Ozempic which used the minister’s before-and-after photos. Apparently in Guyana, it is advised that we not comment on the obvious shenanigans of the powerful. The disparity in consequences though, is a cogent reminder of a Guyanese pathology; we prefer to hold a magnifying glass to the minor transgressions of the powerless while turning a blind eye to the grievous missteps of the powerful.
This is where the myth of Priya Manickchand, the “people’s champion,” completely unravels. The ruling party has anointed her as their “Black people whisperer,” the designated emissary sent to “relate” to the (Black) “man in the street.” One must laugh to keep from crying. This is a woman who publicly boasts of only recently learning to cook, a trivial fact that speaks volumes about a life of privilege far removed from the daily struggles of the average Guyanese. This is a woman who parades in thousand-dollar (USD) handbags and designer suits, symbols of an elite status that separates her from the very people she claims to understand. Some say that it is her propensity to engage in the occasional public cuss out, that makes her relatable to some. I hope that is not the case.
Manickchand’s manipulation is not merely social; it is institutional and deeply damaging. As former Minister of Education, she allegedly presided over a farce of academic improvement in 2025, reporting a fantastical 15-point increase in Math scores on the NGSA. This was a political victory lap, not an educational report. She has left her successor, the hapless Minister Sonia Parag, with an impossible choice; either repeat the lie in the coming year or bear the brunt of the public’s anger when the inevitable “massive recurrence of failure” is revealed in 2026. We wait with bated breath to see which way the dominoes will fall, but the children, as always, will be the ultimate losers.
Priya Manickchand is a politician. We expect a certain level of cunning and ruthlessness. The true heartbreak, however, lies in watching a segment of the population fall for these cruel machinations. The posting of the Black aide’s photo was not a gesture of solidarity; it was a shield, a cynical deployment of identity politics to evade responsibility. It is a painful thing to see, and it demands introspection.
Priya will do what Priya has to do to maintain power. That is her nature. The more critical question is for the public: how long will we allow ourselves to be used? There is an old and powerful proverb that rings true here: “A man cannot ride you if your back is not bent.” It is time we straighten our backs, see the manipulation for what it is, and demand that the real Priya Manickchand, not the carefully focus-grouped version, finally stands up and is held to account. Our dignity depends on it.
