HGP Nightly News – Public anger has surged following President Irfaan Ali’s nearly three-hour national address, driven largely by the failure to deliver a widely anticipated cash grant. But as emotions run high, the Viewpoint Alliance for Change (VPAC) is warning that the country may be fixating on one controversy while far more consequential decisions unfold beyond the spotlight.
According to VPAC, when national attention locks onto a single issue, it creates space for other policies and projects, some potentially costly or unsustainable, to advance without the level of scrutiny they deserve. The organisation argues that outrage, while understandable, can unintentionally weaken public oversight if it becomes too narrow.
There is no dispute over the source of the frustration. Families were promised financial support, and it has not been delivered. VPAC has acknowledged that disappointment as legitimate and shared by many across the country. A commitment was made to the people, and the group insists that it must be recognised plainly and addressed honestly.
At the same time, VPAC cautions against allowing the broken promise to eclipse every other aspect of the President’s address. The plans outlined during the speech, the group says, warrant careful and independent examination. If properly implemented, several of the proposed initiatives could address long-standing structural challenges and reduce dependence on short-term measures such as cash grants.
Recognising that potential, VPAC argues, does not excuse failure. Rather, it reflects a broader understanding of governance, one that demands accountability while remaining open to progress where it may exist. Statesmanship, the group says, requires calling out shortcomings without dismissing policies that could produce long-term benefits.
VPAC has also expressed concern over the direction of the national debate, noting that attention has shifted heavily toward questions about where the address was delivered and why it was not presented in Parliament. While these procedural issues are valid and important, particularly the need for the opposition to be sworn in to ensure democratic function, the group warns that an exclusive focus on process risks obscuring substance.
If the conversation remains trapped there, VPAC suggests, it may inadvertently serve those already in positions of power by diverting attention from the full scope of government decision-making.
“Too much energy is being spent on presentation instead of substance,” the organisation cautioned, warning of an uneven political contest in which strategic planning on one side is met with reactive responses on the other. In such a scenario, VPAC says, the country risks losing regardless of who prevails.
VPAC maintains that its priority remains ensuring citizens receive the support they were promised. Beyond that, it insists that every commitment made to the Guyanese people must be tracked, monitored, and fulfilled.
As public debate continues, the organisation is urging citizens to stay informed and engaged, holding leaders accountable not just for one broken promise, but for every decision and commitment that will shape Guyana’s future.
