“A Bold-Faced Approach”: Dr. Dexter Todd Accuses Gov’t of Starving Opposition Towns to Force Control
By: Marvin Cato | HGP Nightly News
GEORGETOWN, GUYANA — A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) Member of Parliament, Dr. Dexter Todd, has launched a blistering critique of the PPP/C administration, accusing the central government of weaponizing the national budget to “starve” municipalities held by the opposition. Speaking at the party’s weekly press briefing on Friday, Dr. Todd alleged that the government is intentionally withholding critical resources from townships like Georgetown and Linden to undermine local leadership ahead of this year’s Local Government Elections.
Resource Allocation as a Political Weapon
Dr. Todd argued that the government’s “modus operandi” has shifted from national governance to a “party mode” strategy, where the distribution of state assets is determined by political loyalty rather than municipal need.
- Strategic Starvation: The MP claimed that while pro-government strongholds receive new garbage trucks, drainage equipment, and direct financial injections, opposition-led towns are being forced to operate on “starvation budgets.”
- The Goal of Control: “Their intention clearly is to kill the municipalities until they get control,” Todd asserted. He argued that by allowing services to decline in these areas, the government hopes to convince voters that the opposition is incapable of managing local affairs.
- Inclusive vs. Exclusive Governance: Todd reminded the administration that a government is constitutionally mandated to govern all citizens, regardless of political affiliation, and stated that the current “imbalance” is a bold-faced rejection of inclusive governance.
Mapping the Imbalance: Georgetown & Linden
Dr. Todd used the country’s two largest opposition-led municipalities to illustrate what he called a “clear agenda of domination.”
- Georgetown: Despite being the capital city, Todd noted that the municipality frequently struggles to secure subventions for basic sanitation and infrastructure, while central government projects often bypass the City Council to maintain central control.
- Linden: Similar resource gaps were highlighted in Region 10, where the MP claimed essential support measures are delayed or denied, creating an artificial crisis in local service delivery.
- The “Blunt” of the Hand: Todd stated that citizens in these areas—whether they support the APNU or not—are feeling the “blunt of the PPP’s hand” as a direct result of these political maneuvers.
Beyond Highlighting the Problem
Dr. Todd concluded by stating that the APNU would not merely be a “voice of complaint.” He signaled that the party intends to take “all necessary steps”—which may include legal challenges or intensified parliamentary advocacy—to ensure that municipal resources are distributed equitably. As the 2026 Local Government Elections approach, the battle over garbage trucks and subventions is increasingly becoming a proxy for the broader struggle for political control in Guyana’s urban centers.
