In Guyana, we like to say that sunlight is the best disinfectant. Right now, that sunlight is coming from the benches of the Opposition, and it is shining uncomfortably bright on the Azruddin Mohamed, Leader of the Opposition, has earned respect for standing up and calling out what many Guyanese have been whispering about for years—corruption, favouritism, and a lack of accountability at the highest levels of government under the People’s Progressive Party (PPP).
What Mr. Mohamed has been doing is not extraordinary politics; it is basic democratic duty. Yet, in today’s Guyana, doing the bare minimum for accountability seems to be treated like an act of rebellion. With the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) still not properly formed by the Parliament of Guyana, the country is left without one of its most important tools for oversight—scrutinising how taxpayers’ money is being spent by ministries and state agencies.
Instead of waiting quietly while billions of dollars pass through government hands unchecked, the Opposition Leader has stepped into that vacuum. He has been raising red flags about questionable spending, calling attention to inflated contracts, and exposing shoddy works carried out by contractors who seem to enjoy special access because of family ties, friendships, or political loyalty.
This is where the failure of governance becomes glaring. The Public Procurement Commission (PPC)—the very body meant to oversee contracts and ensure fairness and value for money—remains unappointed by the PPP Government. Meanwhile, Guyanese are left driving on roads that break apart months after completion, watching public buildings deteriorate before they are even officially opened, and paying again and again for the same work to be “fixed.”
What is even more troubling is the silence. Several PPP ministers named in allegations raised by Mr. Mohamed have yet to properly explain themselves to the Guyanese people. No clear answers. No full disclosures. Just political noise and finger-pointing. That is not transparency; that is avoidance.
This is why credit must be given to the Opposition Leader. Whether one supports him politically or not, Guyanese must recognise the value of what he is doing. He is speaking up where others remain quiet. He is asking questions that deserve answers. He is reminding those in office that power belongs to the people, not to ministers, contractors, or party insiders.
At the end of the day, this is not about PPP versus Opposition. It is about good governance versus bad governance. It is about whether Guyana moves forward as a country where public money is respected or one where corruption is normalised.
The Guyanese people deserve better—and they deserve answers. Until the PAC is properly formed, until the PPC is appointed, and until ministers come clean, voices like that of Azruddin Mohamed remain not just relevant, but necessary.
Pt. Ubraj Narine, JP, COA
Former Staff Sgt. (GDF), Mayor
City of Georgetown
