President Ali Critiques AFC Leadership Over Youth Welfare Claims
In a recent address, President Dr. Irfaan Ali scrutinized the Alliance For Change (AFC) Leader, Nigel Hughes, along with other opposition members, for their sudden expressions of concern for the youth. He pointedly remarked on the AFC’s historical neglect of community needs, particularly during their time in office.
During a live broadcast, President Ali addressed what he termed as the “spurious claims” made by the opposition. This came shortly after Vice-President Bharrat Jagdeo highlighted that Hughes had acquired 75 acres of land following the fall of the APNU+AFC government due to the 2018 no-confidence motion. In a bid to showcase his care for local residents, Hughes posted images of Leopold Street, a neighborhood near his law firm, claiming it had been overlooked.
In response, President Ali criticized Hughes for his newfound concern, emphasizing that the AFC and APNU had failed to prioritize these communities during their 33 years in power. He pointed out that while the opposition pretends to advocate for youth welfare, they had drastically reduced funding for community enhancement by 60% during their tenure.
The President stated, “Those who are now claiming to love young people and sports cut the budget for community enhancement down to approximately $100 million.” He contrasted this with the period of 2011-2014 under the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C), when community enhancement funding averaged $300 million, despite the absence of oil revenues at that time.
Dr. Ali underscored that the opposition’s claims reveal a deeper philosophical issue rather than a financial one, arguing that their track record speaks volumes about their true priorities. He also noted that the closure of several sugar estates by the APNU+AFC not only deprived thousands of jobs but also led to the dismantling of recreational facilities in vulnerable areas.
Highlighting the negative impact of these closures, President Ali remarked, “GuySuCo maintained numerous grounds and sports facilities across the nation. With its closure, these spaces were lost.” In contrast, since 2020, the PPP government has invested in over 564 community grounds, with a significant number situated in hinterland regions.
He added that plans are in place to install lighting and infrastructure in over 100 grounds to facilitate nighttime sports and activities. Furthermore, over $2 billion has been allocated for ground rehabilitation, alongside the construction of five internationally accredited sports stadiums throughout the country.
“This is our proud track record, and our investments are yielding positive results,” President Ali concluded, reiterating the government’s commitment to community development beyond what was promised in their manifesto.
