The People’s National Congress Reform/A Partnership for National Unity (PNCR/APNU) has launched a blistering attack on the PPP/C administration over what it described as a “national humiliation” during Guyana’s 60th Independence Anniversary Flag Raising Ceremony, arguing that the chaos surrounding the event reflected deeper problems in governance, planning and respect for citizens.
The ceremony, held at Fort Island in the Essequibo River at midnight on May 25 into May 26, was intended to be the centrepiece of Guyana’s Diamond Jubilee celebrations. Instead, the event has generated days of criticism over transportation arrangements, crowd management, diplomatic protocol and the widely publicised failure of the Golden Arrowhead to be raised smoothly during the ceremony.
In a strongly worded statement, the PNCR/APNU said what occurred was more than a logistical breakdown.
“The Flag Raising Ceremony at Fort Island, Essequibo River, was billed as a defining moment for a nation marking a significant milestone. Instead, what unfolded became a national embarrassment that exposed not just a flawed logistics plan, but a deeper predicament—a governance culture that treated public events as mere formalities, rather than opportunities to unite and inspire,” the coalition stated.
The criticism comes amid mounting public scrutiny of the planning for the event, which required hundreds of attendees, including diplomats, government officials and members of the public, to travel by boat from Parika to Fort Island.
According to the opposition, transportation arrangements announced beforehand were not properly followed. The coalition said patrons were informed that VIPs would board the MV Makouria at 7:15 p.m., other attendees would board the MV Konawaruk at 6:15 p.m., and a second group would travel on the MV Sabanto at 8:00 p.m. However, it contended that confusion replaced coordination once crowds arrived at the stelling.
“Instead, a single official at the Stelling, the Great Bishop Edghill, wielded ad hoc authority over who went where, while hundreds of patrons endured confusion,” the statement said.
The opposition argued that the disorder was particularly damaging because the ceremony was intended to celebrate six decades of independence and national unity.
“Public events of national significance deserve leadership that is predictable, transparent, and respectful. What transpired at Parika Stelling fell grievously short on all counts,” it stated.
The PNCR/APNU reserved some of its harshest criticism for what it described as visible social divisions during the event. The coalition claimed reports indicated that some attendees enjoyed preferential treatment while ordinary citizens struggled with uncertainty and discomfort.
“The most painful aspect, and the aspect that will haunt the memory of the event for years to come, was the palpable classism on display,” the coalition stated.
“Reports described the upper deck of the MV Konawaruk as being festooned with music and comfort, while ordinary citizens wrestled with weather, timing, and uncertainty.”
According to the opposition, such disparities undermined the very message of unity the event was supposed to project.
“To witness such a stark disparity at a ceremony meant to symbolize national unity was not merely unfair, but rather eroded trust in the institutions that promised equal respect to all Guyanese.”
The coalition also pointed to reports involving foreign diplomats, including the U.S. Ambassador, who were reportedly caught in the confusion during the return journey from Fort Island.
“The return journey from Fort Island amplified the embarrassment, as diplomats and attendees, among them the American Ambassador, faced scenes that conveyed disorganisation and anxiety,” the statement said.
The controversy has drawn additional attention because Independence Day ceremonies are among the country’s most significant state events and serve as a showcase of national organisation and protocol before the international community.
The opposition argued that the government’s response since the event has compounded the problem.
“Crucially, there was no public apology or acknowledgment of the missteps,” the coalition said, contending that leaders should have accepted responsibility and outlined corrective measures.
Hundreds left behind as the ferry finally departs for Fort Island on May 25, 2026 (Kaieteur News photo)
“An apology, timely and sincere, would have been a first and essential step toward healing the breach between government action and public expectation.”
The PNCR/APNU called for a public apology to patrons, participants and the wider nation, along with reforms to ensure future state events are managed with greater professionalism and accountability.
“The 60th anniversary represented more than a date on a calendar; it represented a statement about who Guyanese were as a people and how they valued one another,” the coalition stated.
The criticism adds to a growing chorus of concerns raised following the Fort Island event. Friday, former Ambassador to Kuwait Professor Dr. Shamir Ally also described aspects of the ceremony as a “national embarrassment,” citing alleged failures in security, transportation planning, diplomatic protocol and contingency management.
For the opposition, however, the significance of the controversy extends beyond a single night.
“To fellow citizens who felt the sting of that day, and to those who watched from abroad and questioned Guyana’s governance, the reality remained that the fault did not lie with the weather or bad luck, but with systems that failed to deliver on their promises,” the coalition said.
“The remedy was not rhetoric but reckoning, not excuses but reforms, not silence but a clear plan to restore trust.”
