Former Minister and former A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) parliamentarian Annette Ferguson has launched a blistering attack on President Irfaan Ali and Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo, challenging their repeated warnings about breaches of financial and procurement rules and demanding that Guyanese be shown where meaningful consequences are actually being imposed.
Ferguson’s broadside came in a public statement in which she questioned whether repeated government warnings amount to anything more than political rhetoric when taxpayers are demanding evidence of accountability.
She opened with an uncompromising question:
“Guyanese,
When are we going to stop these lying Politicians?”
Ferguson specifically contrasted warnings issued by Ali and Jagdeo several months apart, arguing that the message has remained the same while the public is still waiting for evidence of enforcement.
“Accountability-How many warnings do we need?”
“Same message. Different dates. Still the same question: Where are the consequences?”
Ali Warned of Removal; Jagdeo Again Promised Consequences
On May 13, 2026, Ali warned senior public officials that breaches of financial and procurement procedures would attract severe consequences, including removal from office where necessary.
The warning came as the Government continues to oversee billions of dollars in public spending on infrastructure, services and development programmes, making procurement compliance a major issue in the management of public resources.
On September 7, Jagdeo again addressed Permanent Secretaries, Regional Executive Officers and other senior public officials, warning that breaches of laws, regulations and procedures governing public resources would have consequences.
It is precisely this repetition that Ferguson has seized upon.
Her question is not whether Government officials can issue warnings, but whether those warnings have resulted in visible action against officials who breach the rules.
Addressing the President and Vice President directly, she wrote:
“So, Mr. President and Mr. Vice President, Guyanese people are listening.
We don’t need another warning.
We don’t need another stern lecture.
We don’t need another promise.
We need to see action.”
That demand goes to the heart of public confidence in government oversight: if the rules are being broken, the public should be able to determine what investigations followed, who was found responsible and what sanctions, if any, were imposed.
Ferguson therefore posed three direct questions:
“If public officials breach procurement laws, who is being held accountable?
If public resources are improperly handled, what consequences have actually been imposed?
If the Government is serious about protecting taxpayers’ money, where are the investigations, sanctions and recoveries?”
‘Accountability must be seen’
Ferguson’s intervention comes at a time when Guyana is spending at levels far beyond those of previous years, fuelled by rapidly expanding oil revenues and an aggressive programme of public investment.
That expansion has also intensified public scrutiny of government procurement, contract awards and the safeguards designed to ensure that state resources are properly used.
The Public Procurement Commission has statutory responsibilities for oversight of public procurement, including addressing complaints and procurement-related breaches. The wider procurement system also provides mechanisms for sanctions in circumstances where violations are established.
But Ferguson argues that rules on paper mean little if violations do not produce consequences in practice.
She rejected the idea that accountability can be satisfied by speeches, warnings and public declarations.
“Accountability cannot simply be something said behind a microphone whenever the cameras are rolling.”
“Accountability must be seen.”
“Transparency must be demonstrated.”
“Consequences must be real.”
Her criticism is ultimately framed around the ownership of public money.
“Guyana is spending unprecedented amounts of public money. Every dollar belongs to the people, and the people have every right to demand answers.”
Ferguson’s message is that the Government cannot simultaneously tell citizens that breaches will have consequences and expect the public to accept assurances without seeing evidence of enforcement.
She returned to the Government’s own words and issued a blunt response:
“So when the Government says:
‘There will be consequences.’
Our response should simply be:
‘We are waiting to see them.’”
The former parliamentarian ended with a warning that places the burden squarely on the Government to demonstrate that its repeated promises of accountability extend beyond public statements.
“Talk is easy. Governing with accountability is the real test.”
And her final message was brief:
“The people are watching.”
