GUYANA | Guyana Heads to Polls in High-Stakes Election Amid Economic Boom and Political Tensions

Georgetown, Guyana - Guyanese voters will head to the polls on September 1, 2025, in what promises to be one of the most consequential elections in the nation's history. The contest comes as Guyana has emerged as the world's fastest-growing economy, fueled by massive offshore oil discoveries, making the outcome critical for how the country manages its newfound wealth and longstanding ethnic divisions.

The election pits incumbent President Dr. Irfaan Ali of the People's Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) against a crowded field of challengers, with Aubrey Norton of the People's National Congress Reform (PNCR) leading the A Partnership for National Unity (APNU+AFC) coalition as the primary opposition.

Four other candidates are also vying for the presidency, including Azruddin Mohamed of the newly formed We Invest in Nationhood (WIN) party and Amanza Walton-Desir of the Forward Guyana Movement.

Campaign Rhetoric Reaches Fever Pitch

The final days of campaigning have been marked by increasingly heated rhetoric and concerns about potential unrest. At a PPP/C rally in Stewartville, Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo declared that police and army forces were "ready to take on anyone" seeking to disrupt the vote, while predicting a "decisive, overwhelming victory."

Norton responded forcefully at an opposition rally in Plaisance, dismissing Jagdeo as a "complete idiot" and warning the ruling party against clinging to power if defeated.

The PNCR leader told supporters that APNU was prepared to resist "subjugation," language that has revived memories of Guyana's troubled electoral past.

President Ali, seeking a second and final term after his party's narrow 2020 victory, made a passionate appeal at the PPP/C's final rally in Lusignan, urging supporters to turn out in large numbers.

"We have fulfilled every single promise. We worked hard side by side with you," Ali told the red-clad crowd, highlighting investments in housing, healthcare, education, and infrastructure.

New Political Forces Emerge

The 2025 election has seen the emergence of new political movements seeking to break the traditional two-party dominance.

The WIN party, led by presidential candidate Mohamed, held a massive rally at Kingston's Marriott Beach Front, with Mohamed emphasizing his party's multi-ethnic appeal.

"I don't look at race, I don't look at face, religion, etc. I am for every single one of you in this country, everyone," he declared.

Mohamed, who grew up in poverty on the Essequibo Coast, shared his personal story of living with 26 relatives in a cramped home and carrying school books in plastic bags.

WIN has set an ambitious target of 130,000 votes from Region Four alone and named former APNU+AFC minister Tabitha Sarabo-Halley as its prime ministerial candidate.

The Forward Guyana Movement, led by Walton-Desir after her break from the PNCR in June 2025, also held a high-energy rally, presenting itself as a coalition born of necessity rather than political convenience.

Racial Tensions and Controversies

The campaign has been marred by racial tensions, with the Alliance for Change (AFC) condemning what it described as "racial insult" and "voter suppression" by the PPP/C administration.

The AFC strongly criticized Attorney General Anil Nandlall's comments referring to national hero Cuffy as a "proud house slave" and likening African Guyanese PPP supporters to the same.

Adding to the tensions, Indigenous citizens were reportedly removed from a bus in the Rupununi Savannah while traveling to a WIN rally, an incident that went viral on social media and drew sharp criticism from opposition parties.

Security and Electoral Preparations

Amid concerns about potential violence, the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) has implemented comprehensive security measures. Chairperson Justice Claudette Singh (Ret'd) has appealed for peace, assuring that "all systems are in place for the efficient and transparent conduct of the elections."

Members of the disciplined forces have already cast their ballots in the first phase of voting. Police Commissioner Clifton Hicken has guaranteed that law enforcement will maintain a presence to protect citizens' constitutional rights, while the Georgetown Chamber of Commerce and Industry has condemned "insinuations of intended violence."

International Oversight

The stakes have drawn significant international attention, with multiple observer missions deployed to monitor the election. CARICOM observers are on the ground alongside representatives from the Carter Center, the Organization of American States, and the Commonwealth, reflecting regional and international concerns about maintaining democratic stability in this strategically important nation.

High Stakes for National Future

With Guyana's oil wealth transforming its economic prospects, the election outcome will determine how the country manages both unprecedented prosperity and deep-seated social divisions. All six presidential candidates—Ali, Norton, Nigel Hughes (AFC), Mohamed, Walton-Desir, and Dr. Simona Broomes (Assembly for Liberty & Prosperity)—have made ambitious promises to ensure all citizens benefit from the nation's oil-driven boom.

As voters prepare to make their choice, President Ali's final message emphasized the sacred nature of democratic participation: "The right to freely and fairly elect a government of one's choice is the very lifeblood of democracy." The results will not only shape Guyana's political future but also test the nation's ability to balance newfound wealth with democratic stability and social cohesion.

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