As the 2025 One Guyana Christmas Village and Supermarket opened Friday night with lights, music, and festive cheer, many Guyanese are confronting a harsher reality: according to the Inter-American Development Bank 2025 report,58 percent of the population now lives in poverty, with 32 percent in abject poverty. The opening celebrations come as the government has yet to deliver on its $200,000 cash grant promise for each adult, raising questions about priorities in an oil-rich nation.
President Irfaan Ali, speaking to a large crowd on Main Street, said the Village represents more than seasonal festivities—it is a “symbol of togetherness.” “This village is a physical symbol of the closeness, as closeness strengthens community and community strengthens country,” he said. “Many backgrounds can still form one destiny.”
Families strolled through the brightly lit pathways and market stalls as the President emphasised that unity requires daily effort. “Unity is not automatic. It is a choice we make through respect, patience and kindness,” he said. “Nation-building begins with loving each other… let us commit to more trust, more understanding, more compassion.” He stressed that harmony must not be seasonal: “Unity must not be a Christmas emotion. It must be a national standard… because unity delayed is opportunity denied.”
The Christmas Village and Supermarket highlight the work of Guyanese creatives, small manufacturers, and farmers. “Christmas is also a season of giving and our local creators, our entrepreneurs, have given us an extraordinary gift, the gift of Guyanese excellence,” the President said. “When we buy local, we build local.”
He described the supermarket as a “marketplace of dreams” where every product tells a story of dedication and culture. “These are more than items, they are expressions of our culture and evidence of our potential… because small businesses create big possibilities,” he said, urging citizens to support local businesses this season. “When you choose local tonight, you’re choosing to uplift a neighbour, strengthen a community and invest in a shared future.”
President Ali also called for greater care for vulnerable populations, including the elderly, differently-abled, and children. “The vulnerable, the elderly, the differently abled and our children rely on our compassion,” he said. “Their well-being is not charity, it is a duty.”
Several voices have been raised calling on the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) to honour its campaign promise of the $200,000 cash grant to each adult. The We Invest in Nationhood (WIN) partry has been providing a running commentary, while the A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) yesterday renewed the call at a press conference.
Many Guyanese argue that while government officials flaunt conspicuous consumption and invest heavily in infrastructure, human development—including direct support to citizens—remains neglected.
