GEORGETOWN – With general elections on the horizon, Guyana’s ruling People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) has hit the campaign trail touting a lengthy list of accomplishments and promises of continued transformation – a forward-looking message that the opposition is finding hard to counter amid its internal woes. This past weekend, the PPP/C held a high-energy rally on the Essequibo Coast (Region 2) to officially kick off what it calls the “Journey to Prosperity” campaign. Against a backdrop of new farm machinery and school buses symbolizing government projects, speaker after speaker reminded the crowd of pledges kept: thousands of jobs created, free education delivered, infrastructure rising. “We didn’t come to make promises – we came to report promises fulfilled,” declared Prime Minister Mark Phillips to loud cheers.

The PPP/C’s campaign narrative centers on competence and continuity. In stump speeches across the regions, President Irfaan Ali and Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo have been enumerating tangible improvements since 2020. The talking points are backed by data: over 50,000 jobs added economy-wide (including part-time and part-year positions), driven by construction and emerging oil-related industries; public sector wages up by 40% cumulatively; old-age pensions nearly doubled; and free tuition at the University of Guyana now in effect. At a campaign stop in Berbice, President Ali even held aloft a copy of the opposition’s 2015 manifesto, quipping that many items in it – like ending UG fees – were “now checked off by us, not them.” The crowd erupted when he asked, “Who did it? We did it!” – a chant quickly taken up by supporters. It’s a confident strategy to claim not only PPP/C’s traditional promises but also seize the opposition’s ideas by having implemented them.

Meanwhile, the opposition APNU+AFC’s campaign has been slow out of the blocks. Opposition Leader Aubrey Norton has focused his early rhetoric on what he calls government mismanagement: warning of rising cost of living, alleging corruption in contract awards, and arguing that oil wealth isn’t reaching ordinary people. However, his message has been undermined by recent developments. For one, the cost-of-living argument is less salient with inflation under 3% and government cash grants – like a $100,000 one-time payout to vulnerable households last year – easing some burdens. Secondly, Norton’s coalition appears distracted by its own divisions. In the past week, more headlines were generated by an opposition MP’s resignation to form a new party than by APNU’s campaign initiatives. The opposition did release a statement calling the PPP’s rallies “concerts to mask failures,” but it struggled to list major failures beyond generalized claims. Their critique that “oil money is being squandered” has not gained much traction, partly because institutions like the IMF have given approving nods to Guyana’s economic management.

Notably, the PPP/C is also campaigning on inclusive governance – trying to peel away opposition-leaning constituencies. In Linden (Region 10), a predominantly Afro-Guyanese community considered an opposition stronghold, the PPP/C held town hall meetings highlighting government investments there: a new technical institute, upgrades to the Linden-Mabura road, and a planned athletic track and stadium. “No part of Guyana is left behind,” Public Works Minister Juan Edghill told Linden residents, emphasizing that the PPP/C government provided jobs for local youths on road projects and reinstated electricity subsidies for the town that the previous government had removed. By addressing historical grievances (Linden had seen protests over electricity rates under a past PPP government), the ruling party is attempting to neutralize ethnic-political loyalties. Their slate of candidates for Parliament will reportedly include more diverse faces – young professionals and even some ex-opposition members – which the PPP/C hopes will signal its broad appeal.

The opposition coalition, still bearing the APNU+AFC label for now, has tried to regain footing by promising big changes if elected. In a recent press conference, Norton vowed to renegotiate oil contracts to get Guyana a larger share of profits and to establish a $1 million fund for each village to use at its discretion. He also said an APNU+AFC government would remove “excessive” taxes on the oil industry to spur investment. That raised eyebrows, as it seemed to conflict with the push for more revenue from oil companies. Critics immediately pointed out that in their five years in power, APNU+AFC never renegotiated the ExxonMobil contract they inherited, and in fact increased some taxes. The PPP/C seized on these inconsistencies: Minister Jagdeo called Norton’s pledges “bluff and bluster,” saying the opposition is simply telling each audience what it thinks they want to hear – more oil revenue here, fewer taxes there – without a coherent plan. For undecided voters, this lack of clarity could be problematic.

Elections in Guyana often hinge on core support bases, but swing voters – especially the younger generation born after the tumult of the 1990s – are playing a growing role. Both sides acknowledge this. PPP/C has tailored social media content highlighting first-time achievements (like a young woman who became her village’s first university graduate thanks to a GOAL scholarship). The opposition has tried to energize youth too, holding small concerts and speaking of future opportunities. However, the PPP/C’s advantage of incumbency and visible projects lends credibility to its narrative of “we’re building your future now.” With the campaign still in early days, the opposition’s challenge is to craft a compelling message that goes beyond criticizing the government – one that resonates as strongly as the PPP/C’s drumbeat of progress. Otherwise, as one commentator noted, “Elections might become a referendum on whether to stay the course – and right now the course looks pretty good to many.”