HGP NIGHTLY NEWS: Leader of We Invest in Nationhood (WIN) and Opposition Member of Parliament Azruddin Mohamed has accused the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) administration of misleading Guyanese over promised cash relief, warning that thousands of households are now facing a difficult Christmas after expectations were raised during the election campaign.
Reacting to President Irfaan Ali’s five-year development address delivered on Wednesday evening, Mohamed said the speech offered “words without relief” and confirmed what many Guyanese had feared: that campaign-era assurances surrounding cash grants would not materialise as expected before the holiday season.
According to Mohamed, statements made by senior government officials during the campaign created what he described as a “moral contract” with citizens, particularly working families and public servants who planned their Christmas spending around anticipated cash support. He argued that when leaders speak with certainty about benefits, citizens reasonably expect delivery, not delays or scaled-back commitments.
Mohamed criticised the absence of a clear announcement on a Christmas cash grant or bonus, saying the omission has had real consequences for families already grappling with high food prices and stagnant wages. He said public servants, minimum-wage workers, and members of the disciplined services are among those most affected, noting that many had counted on additional income to manage year-end expenses.
The WIN leader further alleged that the administration’s fiscal decisions earlier this year contributed to the current situation. He pointed to the May supplementary budget, arguing that funds were expended during the election period, leaving little room for year-end relief. While acknowledging that cash grants are ultimately a policy choice, Mohamed said the issue is not legality but credibility.
“People made plans. Expectations were set,” Mohamed said, adding that citizens now feel let down at a time when household pressures are at their peak.
He also renewed calls for the government to reconsider providing a Christmas bonus or additional cash support for public servants, including healthcare workers, noting that earlier commitments had been made to address salaries before the end of the year.
Mohamed criticised the venue and format of the President’s address, arguing that delivering a long-term national plan outside Parliament, without the presence of Opposition MPs or a formally elected Opposition Leader, further deepened public frustration and distrust.
He said the public reaction reflects more than political disagreement, describing it instead as widespread disappointment among Guyanese who believed that oil revenues would translate into tangible, timely relief for ordinary households.
As Christmas approaches, Mohamed said the government still has an opportunity to restore confidence by addressing immediate economic pressures, warning that continued silence on cash support risks deepening public anger and eroding trust.
