By Marvin Cato | HGP Nightly News |
Prime ministerial candidate and Member of Parliament for the We Invest in Nationhood (WIN) party, Tabitha Sarabo-Halley, believes the ruling People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) is still grappling with the political shock of the 2025 General and Regional Elections and is uncertain about how to engage the country’s new political movement.
Speaking during a recent radio programme, Sarabo-Halley argued that the emergence of WIN has disrupted long-standing political norms and left the government uncomfortable in what she described as unfamiliar political territory. According to her, decision-making is no longer “business as usual,” and recent actions by government officials reflect confusion rather than clarity.
She pointed to what she described as inconsistent and illogical explanations coming from government operatives in recent weeks. As an example, Sarabo-Halley questioned why the government appeared content with a verbal explanation from the Minister of Tourism regarding allegations of unexplained wealth, rather than initiating what she believes should have been a thorough investigation.
She also highlighted what she described as contradictions in the state’s handling of the extradition proceedings involving the WIN leader. According to Sarabo-Halley, government lawyers initially agreed to a February court date for the continuation of the case, only to reverse that position the following day by requesting an earlier hearing.
“The PPP is going through a crisis on how to deal with WIN and how to deal with the leadership of Azruddin Mohamed,” she said, adding that the ruling party appears unsettled by how events unfolded following the elections.
Sarabo-Halley believes the government did not anticipate the rapid rise of WIN or its strong electoral performance, which resulted in the party securing a significant number of parliamentary seats in a short period. She noted that facing a presumptive Opposition Leader who does not fit the traditional political mould presents a challenge for a ruling party accustomed to more predictable opponents.
According to the MP, recent government decisions suggest an attempt to downplay the outcome of the September 1 elections, despite official results declared by the Guyana Elections Commission.
She further alluded to comments by the PPP’s General Secretary indicating a preference for engaging with A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) rather than WIN, describing this as evidence of discomfort with the unorthodox nature of the new political movement.
Sarabo-Halley said there appears to be growing concern within the ruling party over how to confront a reconfigured political landscape, arguing that recent actions suggest uncertainty—and possibly fear—about how to respond to WIN and its leadership.
Since the elections, political tensions have remained high, with the government pursuing extradition proceedings against the WIN leader, while both sides continue to trade accusations ranging from corruption to tax evasion. Sarabo-Halley maintains that these developments reflect a ruling party still searching for a strategy to deal with a transformed opposition and a changed political order.
