Ferguson Warns of PPP/C’s Lavish Campaign Spending and “Empty Promises”

With less than 40 days remaining before the September 1 General and Regional Elections, former Minister and Member of Parliament Annette Ferguson has voiced sharp criticism of the governing People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C), accusing the administration of excessive and questionable pre-election spending.

In a detailed letter to the media, Ferguson raised alarm over the PPP/C’s “lavish spending on election paraphernalia,” questioning whether taxpayers’ money is being used to bankroll a campaign blitz that includes branded jerseys, towering sound systems, truckloads of supporters, and oversized banners of Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo, who is not even contesting in the upcoming elections.

“It is difficult to accept the explanation that these are funded by party monies, as they would like us to believe,” Ferguson wrote. “In hindsight, it appears that public funds have been siphoned off to build a massive war chest, essentially using the people’s money against them.”

She described the situation as part of a broader pattern of arrogance and evasion by the PPP/C government. Citing her own unanswered queries on Budget 2025’s allocations for Bourda Market and Bourda Green, Ferguson said the lack of response reflects the administration’s “don’t care, don’t question us” attitude.

In the midst of PPP administration wanton spending on elections paraphernalia a recent World Bank Report notes that at least half the population live in poverty, on less than US$5.50 per day or GY$1200.00. Local analysts believe the figure is hre given Guyana’s poor data gathering techniques.

“As we approach the countdown to General and Regional Elections, there are a number of concerning developments,” she said. “These concerns, when raised, are rarely addressed by the incumbents. Instead, they are brushed aside while the government’s spin doctor performs his usual Thursday theatrics.”

Ferguson challenged whether the current campaign optics, described as a psychological war on Guyanese, reflect appropriate use of resources in a country still grappling with underfunded health services and other essential sectors. “This misuse of public resources is especially disturbing when those same funds could have been directed toward improving health services or other essential sectors,” she stated.

She also criticised the content of recent PPP/C rallies, notably the one in Region Two, which she described as heavy on spectacle but light on substance. “It was yet another display of fluff, bluster, and Mr. Jagdeo’s typical Thursday ramblings,” she said.

Ferguson took particular issue with what she called repeated misrepresentations by the PPP/C — including the often-repeated claim that the former APNU+AFC government introduced “200 new taxes,” which she flatly rejected. These claims have “been refuted numerous times by myself and former Finance Minister Winston Jordan. Questions were tabled in the National Assembly in 2023, yet never answered,” she noted.

She also disputed the claim that 7,000 sugar workers lost their jobs during the Coalition’s term, calling the figure misleading and inflated. Citing Hansard records and a statement from former Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo, Ferguson put the number at 4,763 and noted that 11,000 workers remained employed at existing estates.

At the Region Two rally, she said, PPP/C leaders “begged” voters for support while touting the construction of hotels, roads, and a new regional hospital at Lima. But Ferguson questioned the relevance of such projects to the lives of ordinary Indigenous citizens. “Are they expected to afford services at such facilities? Is the government now in the business of hotel development?”

Turning to the housing sector, Ferguson accused the administration of preying on the emotions of young people. She cited claims that 700 house lots were allocated in Region Two in 2021, and over 400 in 2025, but asked how many recipients had actually been able to build homes or access financing. “Where is the follow-up?” she asked. She also highlighted unresolved infrastructure issues, including the region’s ongoing struggle with high iron content in the water supply, despite billions being pumped into the sector.

Ferguson also criticised vague promises of improved regional connectivity and support for small farmers through a proposed Development Bank. “Will small-scale farmers be able to access loans given the usual bureaucratic hurdles? Where is the roadmap?” she asked.

She raised questions about the effectiveness of the GOAL scholarship initiative, which PPP/C leaders claimed had benefited over 4,000 persons in Region Two. “What was conveniently left out were the areas of study, completion rates, and employment outcomes,” she noted. Ferguson also reminded supporters of an unfulfilled 2022 promise from Vice President Jagdeo to deliver 1,200 new jobs to Region Two residents, a promise she said remains largely unmet.

Reflecting on the PPP/C’s extended tenure in government, 28 years across two periods, Ferguson urged voters to reject glitzy PR campaigns and political grandstanding. She contrasted the PPP/C’s record with the enduring legacy of former President Forbes Burnham, citing landmark projects like the Demerara Harbour Bridge, Soesdyke-Linden Highway, and Canje Bridge as examples of infrastructure that still serve the country today.

“The Coalition Government (2015–2020) made meaningful improvements and had a clear vision for Guyana,” she said. “Since returning to power, the PPP/C has reversed many of those policies — policies that were working to make Guyana great again.”

In her closing appeal, Ferguson called on Guyanese to vote wisely in the upcoming September 1 elections. “Don’t be swayed by smooth talkers, masterful orators, or flashy PR campaigns,” she wrote. “The future of Guyana and that of future generations depends on it. Let us rise above political name-calling and personal attacks. Let us focus on the bigger picture: reclaiming our country’s dignity and charting a path toward shared prosperity.”

“I firmly believe that APNU offers a credible and viable pathway toward national development and prosperity,” she concluded.