President Ali’s Address to the Nation- Rhetoric against Reality

By Roysdale Forde S.C- President Irfaan Ali’s address to the nation, yesterday afternoon, was long on words but short on capturing the suffering and pain of the nation. Beneath the soaring rhetoric lie persistent structural and systemic issues in Guyana that demand critical examination. In dissecting his claims, we find a pattern familiar in modern political discourse: inspiring language that often does not fully reconcile with on-the-ground realities.

Central to the President’s address was the theme of unity; a call transcending ethnic, political, and economic divides. He declared “One People One Nation One Destiny.” Such unity is, in principle, laudable. Yet, unity cannot be conjured merely through aspirational phrases; it must be built on trust, fairness, and shared opportunity. As Nelson Mandela, one of the foremost advocates for equity, once warned, “To deny people their human rights is to challenge their very humanity.” In a nation where oil wealth has grown exponentially, many ordinary Guyanese still feel excluded from the prosperity that President Ali speaks about.

Take, for example, the housing initiative highlighted in the speech: “At a minimum, 30,000 homes will be constructed in the next five years… delivering not just shelter, but dignity, opportunity, and economic empowerment.” The promise to shift from land ownership to home ownership is noteworthy and, in fact, an approach another party proposed. Yet Guyana’s serious housing shortage stems not only from insufficient construction but from inequitable access to affordable finance, rising costs of building materials, and weak urban planning. As of this writing, there is little detail on how low-income families, whose needs are most acute, will be prioritised or how this initiative will avoid replicating global patterns where large housing projects benefit investors more than the poor.

President Ali also invoked the vision of infrastructural transformation, asserting that the country’s progress is “beyond anyone’s wildest imagination.” Yet infrastructure is only as impactful as its accessibility and sustainability. Across regions, many communities still lack reliable roads, water, and electricity; conditions which undercut the very development he champions. Infrastructure without equitable distribution risks becoming another symbol of growth that is seen from afar but not felt locally.

A key point in the speech was the leveraging of Guyana’s energy and natural resources to promote industrial growth. The President stated that if there is demand for construction materials, Guyana must produce these domestically. Using resource wealth for industrialisation is theoretically sound. However, Guyana’s oil boom brings with it the well-documented risk of “Dutch disease”; where resource exports strengthen the currency and crowd out other productive sectors like agriculture and manufacturing. Recent analyses indicate that balancing rapid oil-led growth with sustainable diversification will be one of the greatest economic challenges ahead.

President Ali also spoke about sovereignty, especially in relation to Venezuela’s longstanding territorial claims. He emphasised that Guyana is peaceful but not weak, and that it will defend its territory. This assertion connects to basic national security imperatives. Yet true sovereignty extends beyond borders to encompass social sovereignty –  where citizens feel secure in their livelihoods and political voice. Here, the President’s rhetoric again exceeds measurable progress. For example, persistent inequality persists despite oil revenues.

In calling for unity, Ali focuses on collective destiny. But unity cannot be mandated; it must be earned through inclusive governance and genuine dialogue. As Mahatma Gandhi famously said, “It’s the action, not the fruit of the action, that’s important.” Promises of unity without mechanisms for accountability and inclusion are hollow.

There is also a critical democratic dimension. President Ali stressed that democracy is fragile and demands vigilance. Yet democratic health is not sustained simply by warning against division; it thrives when institutions work impartially, when the press and civil society operate without fear, and when citizens see their voices reflected in decision-making. Nelson Mandela warned that “a critical, independent and investigative press is the lifeblood of any democracy.” For true vigilance, Guyana must protect these democratic pillars, not merely invoke democracy as a rhetorical banner.

The President also spoke about infrastructure transformation connecting Guyana to neighbours, but this must be evaluated against real measures that enhance trade, reduce barriers, and improve livelihoods. Connectivity is not merely physical roads; it is also institutional connectivity – where trade, innovation, and knowledge flows are sustained by transparent policy and equitable opportunity.

Finally, we must note and acknowledge the contrast between rhetoric and reality. As Audre Lorde, a profound activist and writer, reminded us: “Your silence will not protect you.” In the context of national discourse, silence about shortcomings – whether in governance, equality, or democratic fairness – does not protect the nation. It enables the persistence of issues that rhetoric alone cannot resolve.