GEORGETOWN, GUYANA – Attorney General Anil Nandlall is warning Guyanese voters not to be swayed by what he describes as empty promises from A Partnership for National Unity (APNU), saying the opposition party’s latest campaign platform is financially reckless and deeply misleading.
In a sharp critique during his weekly programme Issues in the News, Nandlall, a senior executive of the People’s Progressive Party (PPP), scoffed at APNU’s headline pledges—including a 35% salary increase for government workers, a $50,000 monthly stipend for post-secondary students, and an annual $120,000 grant for every child.
“With just a few of these promises… within one year or six months, we are either bankrupt or close to bankruptcy,” he warned. “A conman will tell you anything to get what he wants, and you will see that throughout the campaign.
”The Attorney General didn’t stop at the promises. He also took aim at the opposition’s campaign launch on Sunday at the Square of the Revolution, calling it underwhelming and a clear sign of APNU’s waning public support.
“Having seen many APNU/PNC/AFC campaigns being launched over the years, this one was lukewarm, to say the least,” he said. “The crowd was appreciably smaller when compared to previous launches. Even the most ardent PNC supporter would agree—it was a disappointment.
”In contrast, Nandlall pointed to the PPP’s recent public events and fundraisers, which he says have pulled in massive crowds. He cited a dinner at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre that drew over 15,000 people despite a $5,000 ticket price, as well as similar turnouts in Region Three and at Everest Cricket Ground.
According to him, the contrast in crowd size is “an indicia of what is to come. ”Nandlall argues that APNU’s shrinking base is not just a turnout issue, but the result of years of unkept promises and internal instability. He referenced the APNU+AFC coalition’s 2015 campaign, which included commitments like reducing the Berbice Bridge toll, waiving duties for small miners, and improving conditions for farmers.
Instead, he says, their time in office saw increased taxes, the closure of sugar estates, and higher charges for land, water, and electricity. “It has never fulfilled its promises, and it doesn’t care that it has never done so,” he said. “They promise anything that sounds attractive, because they have no intention—or ability—to follow through.
”The PPP is set to launch its own campaign this Sunday at Kitty Market Square. Nandlall said it will be a show of strength, with thousands expected to attend and top party leaders—including President Dr Irfaan Ali, General Secretary Dr Bharrat Jagdeo, and Prime Minister Mark Phillips—set to deliver the main addresses.
“The mighty red force will be out in full,” Nandlall said. “That’s the difference—our record speaks for itself, and so do our crowds.”
