Former minister and Alliance For Change (AFC) candidate Jaipaul Sharma has issued a sharp caution to Guyanese voters, urging them not to be “tricked” by what he described as the governing People’s Progressive Party/Civic’s (PPP/C) calculated fearmongering and naked grab for unchecked power. His comments, made in a social media post a day ago, follow recent declarations by PPP officials that the party is seeking a two-thirds majority in the September 1 general and regional elections.
Sharma’s statement was a direct response to former President Donald Ramotar’s appearance on the Globespan24/7 programme, where Ramotar confidently projected that the PPP/C would secure “the largest majority ever” in 2025. But if that were true, Sharma asked, why did President Irfaan Ali need to publicly urge Berbicians to turn out and vote to prevent the PPP/C from becoming a minority government?
“Just take a look at these pictures of huge crowds at their political rallies — and this is not even taking into consideration the over 100,000 votes they are expecting from the diaspora,” Sharma wrote. “So, it is safe to say that the PPP/C are dishonest about becoming a minority government and were unnecessarily driving fear into their local supporters… so they would turn up in their numbers and vote.”
The former minister warned that such tactics reveal a larger strategy: to win a dominant, two-thirds hold on the National Assembly that would allow the PPP/C to amend the Constitution or pass sweeping laws without consensus. “If the PPP/C government can wield so much power with only a one-seat majority or simple majority, just imagine what the PPP/C party would do to the people with more than a one-seat majority,” Sharma cautioned. “Power corrupts, and absolute power corrupts absolutely.”
He added: “I pray that you all be responsible with your votes and don’t allow yourself to be tricked because this deception can lead to the creation of something or someone with monstrous qualities or consequences for all.”
Sharma’s warning came on the heels of declarations made last evening at a PPP rally, where top officials confirmed their intention to secure a two-thirds majority.
Public Works Minister Juan Edghill told supporters that the PPP intends to flip Regions 4 and 10 — both traditionally strongholds of the opposition. “They must no longer have the majority to stifle the development of these regions,” Edghill declared.
Minister of Housing and Water Susan Rodrigues echoed this strategy, claiming the party had already seen “about 10,000 new votes” in Region 4 and would be working aggressively to take control of Georgetown’s City Council.
But not everyone is convinced the numbers are there. Political analyst Randy Gopaul urged skepticism about the PPP’s goal. “The numbers don’t support a two-thirds path,” he said. “In 2020, the PPP won 33 seats with just over 50% of the vote. Even with a 55 to 58 percent showing, which is unlikely given the rise of third-party competition, they’d fall short of 44 seats.”
Gopaul noted that a two-thirds majority requires 44 of the 65 seats in the National Assembly — a historically rare achievement in Guyana’s electoral politics.
Still, Sharma remains concerned. With over 100,000 votes expected from the diaspora and a well-funded campaign machine, he believes the PPP/C is doing everything it can to consolidate power. “This isn’t just about winning,” Sharma warned. “It’s about domination — and that should alarm every right-thinking Guyanese.”
