“No Place for Corruption” – Mahipaul Vows Clean Governance Under APNU

On the Sources podcast, Mahipaul described the PPP government as “a dirty pack of people” who have enriched themselves while ordinary Guyanese struggle. “One in every one person in the PPP government is corrupt,” he declared. “They all know each other’s secrets. They cover for each other. It is why Guyana is now ranked among the most corrupt nations despite our oil wealth.”

Ganesh Mahipaul, APNU’s candidate for vice president, has launched a full-throated attack on the governing People’s Progressive Party, accusing every member of the administration of being complicit in corruption and promising that a new APNU government would root out graft with sweeping reforms.

On the Sources podcast, Mahipaul described the PPP government as “a dirty pack of people” who have enriched themselves while ordinary Guyanese struggle. “One in every one person in the PPP government is corrupt,” he declared. “They all know each other’s secrets. They cover for each other. It is why Guyana is now ranked among the most corrupt nations despite our oil wealth.”

To prevent abuse of office, Mahipaul unveiled a bold proposal: the opposition will hold permanent seats on every state board and commission, including the National Procurement and Tender Administration Board, Guyoil, the Lands and Surveys Commission, and the Central Housing and Planning Authority.

“The opposition’s role is to expose wrongdoings. But unless they are present in these institutions, corruption flourishes. We will not be secretive. We will be inclusive, and that inclusivity is the antidote to corruption,” Mahipaul said.

He argued that Guyana’s governance model must move beyond “winner takes all” and create systems so strong that no administration, including APNU itself, can manipulate them.

Mahipaul also promised that the coalition would police its own ranks. “Any government official under APNU that is caught in corruption will be required to resign immediately. If I myself cannot uphold accountability, I will resign. We cannot be fighting to cleanse Guyana’s image while tolerating corruption inside our own government,” he said.

He credited APNU leader Aubrey Norton with embodying clean politics. “They can’t find anything on him, so they criticize how he dances or doesn’t smile. But that doesn’t run a country. What runs a country is an accomplished leader with an unblemished character, and that is Aubrey Compton Norton.”

Mahipaul criticized the Guyana Elections Commission, saying it had proven itself incompetent and incapable of delivering a free and fair election. He also pledged that Police Commissioner Clifton Hicken would be removed on day one of an APNU government. “He is neither certified nor qualified to be top cop. Our disciplined forces are hardworking and patriotic, but they are demoralized under corrupt leadership. That must change,” he insisted.

He suggested that frontline police officers deserve more recognition and compensation. “Traffic ranks on the road every morning and evening should receive allowances for their sacrifice. Respecting and properly compensating our disciplined forces is central to restoring national pride,” Mahipaul said.

Beyond accountability, Mahipaul highlighted measures to tackle cost of living and diversify the economy. He pledged to increase agricultural output, expand fisheries, and encourage production of medicinal hemp and value-added products. He also promised stricter engineering oversight on road and construction projects to ensure taxpayers get value for money.

For Mahipaul, however, the central issue is integrity. “I want to leave a legacy of a Guyana where people are proud of their leaders. Power belongs to the people, and we are coming as servants, not masters,” he said.

As voters prepare for the September 1 election, Mahipaul’s message was clear, APNU’s campaign rests not just on promises of jobs and cash transfers, but on a pledge to break Guyana’s culture of corruption and restore public trust in government