President Dr. Irfaan Ali Engages with Youths in Natural Resources Apprentices Programme, August 2022

President Dr. Irfaan Ali has called out the A Partnership for National Unity + Alliance For Change (APNU+AFC) for their lack of support for the youth of Guyana. During a live broadcast, he asserted, “The APNU+AFC Government claims to care for the people, but Nigel Hughes and others walking into Leopold Street are merely pretending. They have shown no genuine concern for the youth! They were in power not just from 2015 to 2020, but for 33 years prior, and what did they accomplish for young people during that time?”

He pointed out that the previous administration drastically reduced funding for community enhancement by 60%. “They were the very ones expressing affection for young people, Linden, Berbice, New Amsterdam, sports, and our athletes, but what’s the reality?” President Ali remarked. He explained that the APNU+AFC government’s average expenditure on community enhancement was around $100 million per year.

During the period from 2011 to 2014, when the Peoples Progressive Party was in power and the APNU+AFC held a one-seat majority in opposition, the opposition used their influence to slash budgets across various sectors. President Ali noted that during this time, the average expenditure on community enhancement was $300 million, even before the discovery of oil and gas.

“They came into power after oil was discovered, and their average investment fell to $100 million,” he emphasized, highlighting the contrasting philosophies of the two administrations.

“This is the truth they wish to escape, the reality they want to ignore. So, they revert to old tactics of threats, violence, racism, and corruption allegations,” President Ali stated. Recently, APNU+AFC leaders have faced backlash for their ongoing attacks on the youth.