Guyana’s extraordinary oil-fuelled economic growth is failing to translate into the quality of public services, infrastructure and governance that citizens should expect, Opposition Leader Azruddin Mohamed argued Wednesday, as he turned the spotlight on what he described as persistent failures of the Irfaan Ali administration.
Guyana is now producing more than 900,000 barrels of oil daily, while the International Monetary Fund projects real GDP growth of 16.2 percent in 2026. The country’s oil wealth is also set to increase significantly after ExxonMobil and its partners recovered their US$55 billion investment in the Stabroek Block, triggering a larger share of production revenue for Guyana.
Yet Mohamed’s central question is whether ordinary Guyanese are experiencing a corresponding improvement in their daily lives.
“People must not just hear about the trillions. They must feel it.”
His comments come against the backdrop of continuing problems with electricity reliability, water supply, healthcare, infrastructure and disaster response—issues that have become increasingly difficult to reconcile with Guyana’s spectacular economic expansion.
‘Reactive. Never proactive.’
Mohamed characterised the administration as “reactive”, arguing that government repeatedly waits until problems emerge, criticism mounts and public pressure intensifies before responding.
“This government is reactive. Something happens, they get exposed, the opposition calls them out, the public demands answers, and then suddenly they seek expert advice.”
He directed that criticism particularly at the oil and gas sector, questioning why a country that has been producing petroleum commercially since 2019 would still be developing systems and seeking expertise after the sector has already transformed the economy.
“Guyana has been producing oil for years. Where was the preparedness? Where was the expertise? Where were the systems?”
The criticism takes on added significance as Guyana’s oil revenues expand. Reuters reported that the country’s entitlement from the Stabroek Block is increasing substantially following the recovery of Exxon’s investment costs.
Wealth versus basic services
Mohamed also pointed to the continuing electricity crisis and the Government’s repeatedly delayed promise to halve electricity costs.
The World Bank has described Guyana’s growth outlook as exceptionally strong, driven primarily by expanding petroleum production. At the same time, the country continues to face infrastructure and electricity challenges.
Mohamed questioned the logic of celebrating economic growth while communities continue to experience unreliable electricity and inadequate water supplies.
He similarly challenged the Government’s claims about improvements in healthcare, citing overcrowded hospitals, shortages of equipment and medication, understaffing and patients having to raise money for overseas medical treatment.
His criticism extended to multibillion-dollar hospital projects involving VAMED Engineering, which he questioned in relation to the Government’s broader approach to procurement and oversight.
“This is the same PPP government, keeps making decisions first and asking questions afterwards. Reactive. Never proactive.”
Barima exposes another gap
Mohamed used the MV Barima disaster as another example of what he considers a failure to match government action with the scale of a national crisis.
More than a month after the July 18 tragedy, he said families remain traumatised and searching for answers.
“One month later, families are still grieving. One month later, families are still looking for answers. One month later, there is still no urgency that matches the scale of this tragedy.”
He questioned the effectiveness of President Ali’s HEART initiative, saying affected residents had reported to WIN representatives that little meaningful assistance was reaching them.
Mohamed said WIN had instead assisted 58 affected persons and families—21 survivors, 21 families of deceased victims and six families of people still missing.
“We did not wait for a press conference. We went to the people.”
He also renewed calls for Ministers Juan Edghill and Deodat Indar to be removed while the Commission of Inquiry into the disaster is conducted.
‘Address the message’
Mohamed also rejected attempts to focus attention on his personal credibility rather than the issues he has raised, including his allegations concerning President Ali’s farm.
“Address the message, not the messenger.”
His broader challenge is increasingly centred on the contrast between Guyana’s headline economic numbers and conditions confronting citizens.
The World Bank estimates Guyana’s GDP per capita could reach about US$35,000 by the end of 2026, up dramatically from US$4,000 in 2016.
For Mohamed, however, economic statistics have limited meaning if the oil boom does not produce better healthcare, reliable electricity and water, stronger infrastructure, accountable governance and faster responses to national emergencies.
The question he is putting to the Ali administration is therefore not whether Guyana is getting richer.
It is who is actually feeling the wealth—and why are so many basic problems still unresolved?
