The A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) has challenged President Irfaan Ali and the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) General Secretary Bharrat Jagdeo to match their praise of democracy with action, citing weakened local government institutions, alleged electoral inequalities, concerns over state media bias and questions about compliance with court rulings.
In a sharply worded statement issued Friday, the coalition challenged the two senior PPP/C figures over their October 5 statements praising free elections, an independent judiciary, a strong Parliament and a free press, arguing that the government’s actions contradict those principles.
“Democracy cannot be speeches about 1992 while all the democratic institutions are being weakened or destroyed by the government,” APNU declared.
The criticism comes amid continuing political disagreements over electoral transparency, the independence of public institutions and the administration of local democratic organs following the September 2025 general and regional elections.
APNU argued that the government’s democratic credentials must be judged by its conduct in office rather than its public declarations, pointing to the failure to reconstitute the Local Government Commission, concerns about state media coverage, disputes over compliance with court rulings and resistance to the proposed introduction of biometric voter verification.
Local democracy under scrutiny
The coalition highlighted the continued absence of the Local Government Commission, whose tenure expired in April 2024. The commission provides independent oversight of staffing and related matters in local democratic organs.
APNU said the prolonged absence of the body, combined with complaints of central-government interference, undermines the ability of elected local representatives to serve their communities independently.
“Local councils must not be treated as administrative branches of the governing party or punished because voters chose representatives from another party.”
The coalition called on the government to restore the commission, provide adequate resources to municipalities and neighbourhood democratic councils, and respect their statutory authority without political interference or discrimination.
The issue is particularly significant because local government is intended to give communities a direct voice in decisions affecting their neighbourhoods, services and development.
Election observers and state media
APNU also challenged the government’s record on electoral fairness, citing findings it attributed to European Union and Commonwealth observer missions following the September 2025 elections.
According to the coalition, the observers identified disproportionate coverage favouring the incumbent, bias in state media reporting, unequal access to campaign resources and insufficient campaign-finance safeguards.
APNU condemned what it described as the PPP/C’s “effective dominance of state-funded political messaging” and demanded a genuinely independent public media system, fair access for competing political parties, transparent government advertising and enforceable rules against the partisan use of public resources.
The coalition’s criticism raises questions about the use of publicly funded communication platforms and whether political parties compete on an equitable footing during election campaigns.
Government’s record on court rulings questioned
The statement also questioned the government’s handling of the Guyana Teachers’ Union dispute, in which the High Court ruled in 2024.
APNU said the union reported in 2025 that the Ministry of Education had failed to resume deductions and remittances of union dues following the court ruling.
While acknowledging that the government had the right to appeal a judgment, the coalition argued that respect for judicial independence must extend to compliance with binding court orders.
“An appeal is a lawful right; ignoring a binding order is not. A government that praises judicial independence must show respect for it, particularly when judges rule against the executive.”
APNU called for a clear public accounting of the orders in force and the government’s compliance. Its statement did not detail the specific orders or provide the government’s explanation for the reported failure to resume remittances.
Renewed push for biometric verification
Electoral reform remains another major point of contention. APNU reiterated its support for legislation permitting biometric verification at polling stations, arguing that the measure could help prevent voter impersonation and strengthen public confidence in elections.
The coalition acknowledged the need to protect eligible voters from disenfranchisement but maintained that the risks could be addressed through reliable equipment, accessible procedures and independent auditing.
“The Commonwealth observers recommended addressing biometric registration and verification early in the next electoral cycle,” APNU said.
The PPP/C has raised concerns that biometric verification could exclude eligible voters. APNU countered that a properly designed and legislated system could provide safeguards while improving the credibility of the electoral process.
The coalition also demanded stronger accountability by the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM), timely publication of polling-station results, audits and enforceable rules governing campaign financing and the use of state resources.
APNU calls for public pressure
APNU proposed a time-bound programme of democratic reforms, including reconstituting the Local Government Commission, protecting local councils from partisan interference, amending electoral laws to allow biometric verification, guaranteeing fair access to state media and ensuring compliance with court orders.
It also urged citizens, professional associations, trade unions, faith communities, young people, businesses and civil society organisations to press for accountability beyond election periods.
“Private concern, occasional outrage and social-media complaints are not enough.”
The coalition warned against relying on international partners to resolve Guyana’s democratic challenges, arguing that meaningful change must come from citizens demanding accountability from their own institutions.
“What is needed is the recognition that the vote belongs to the people, the Constitution binds those in power, and democracy is a daily obligation.”
APNU’s statement sets out a series of demands that, if implemented, would require legislative action, institutional changes and consultation among political parties and other stakeholders.
The allegations and criticisms remain the coalition’s assessment of the government’s record. Responses from Ali, Jagdeo, the government and GECOM were not included in the release.
APNU ended with a direct challenge to the governing party and the electorate: “Demand democracy in practice, not merely in proclamation.”
