The Working People’s Alliance (WPA) has issued a stark warning to the Guyanese people about what it describes as the country’s rapid descent into a one-party authoritarian state. The WPA, which has long been critical of the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) government, argues that since its return to power in 2020, the PPP has sought to conceal its authoritarian agenda under the guise of democracy and development.
In its latest statement, the WPA asserts that the governing party with the support of a compliant civil society, a weak opposition, and an international community that is sympathetic to its rhetoric, has gradually merged the government and the ruling party into a single entity.
This, the WPA argues, is a direct manifestation of “party paramountcy,” where the power and agenda of the party supersede the interests of the state and society. The result is a government that is unaccountable and unrestrained, with the ruling party wielding unchecked control over all aspects of governance.
The WPA is particularly critical of the government’s decision to emblazon its partisan slogan, “One Guyana,” on the national passport, describing it as a “barefaced hijack of an instrument of the State for partisan ends.” According to the WPA, symbols of national identity, such as the passport, the flag, and the national anthem, should be beyond the reach of political manipulation. By inserting its slogan into a government-issued document, the PPP has, in the WPA’s view, flagrantly politicised the state apparatus, undermining the notion of a unified, non-partisan national identity.
“This is nothing short of a national eye-pass,” the WPA stated in its release. “The PPP, once a champion of anti-authoritarian ideals, has now engineered the return of authoritarianism in a new, more dangerous form—one that is immersed in the contradictions of a Petrostate.”
The WPA also highlighted what it sees as further evidence of the growing concentration of power in the hands of the PPP. The party’s leader, General Secretary Bharrat Jagdeo, who is also a vice president, is regularly seen at the Freedom House headquarters, issuing government policy directives and announcements, signaling a direct and troubling intertwining of government and party. The WPA describes this as a stark departure from previous administrations, where a governing party’s office was separate from the ministries of government. Instead, the PPP has effectively relocated the entire government into a party office, representing the epitome of party paramountcy.
The party also raised concerns about the PPP’s recent engagement of a U.S.-based lobbying firm. The government has reportedly contracted the firm for a monthly fee of US$50,000, with additional costs. However, the WPA questions whether the firm is lobbying on behalf of the PPP or the government, casting doubt on the transparency of the arrangement.
The WPA poses several pointed questions regarding the nature of this lobbying effort.”Is the firm lobbying on behalf of the party or the government? If it is being done on the government’s behalf, what exactly are they trying to get the US government to do? Why is the country learning of this action three months after it commenced? What is the lobbying firm hoping to achieve for Guyana that our embassy in the US cannot achieve?”
The WPA’s statement suggests that the government’s actions are part of a broader strategy to solidify its grip on power, both domestically and internationally. It underscores the WPA’s long-standing concerns about the erosion of democratic norms and the increasing concentration of power in the hands of the PPP, warning that such actions risk undermining the core values of democracy, accountability, and transparency in Guyana.
The organisation concluded by reiterating its call for a return to genuine democratic practices, urging all Guyanese to remain vigilant against the growing threat of one-party rule.
