In Guyana, the Opposition find themselves in a very desperate situation. Day-in and day-out, we see them driven to “clutching at straws” to remain relevant. As it becomes crystal clear, each and every single day, that the PPP juggernaut is journeying to an overwhelming victory in Elections 2025, the Opposition’s desperation turns from comical to tragic. Even the red line of always remaining patriotic in the face of external threat is now ignored, as the recent unpatriotic stance of the AFC in the face of Venezuela’s military intrusion deep into Guyana’s EEZ shows.
We see the same kind of obnoxious, unpatriotic behaviour after the recent visit by the US Secretary of State to Guyana. The second visit by a serving Secretary of State (Minister of Foreign Affairs) of the USA to Guyana took place last week when Secretary Marco Rubio visited our country. President Ali became the first President of Guyana to meet with a serving American Secretary of State in Georgetown. Secretary Rubio made it pellucid that America would stand by Guyana if Venezuela’s Maduro attempted to militarily attack Guyana. In his words, Venezuela would have a very “bad day” should they attack Guyana.
For America, the Americas is a zone of peace, and an attack against Guyana would be seen as an attack against the Americas. In that circumstance, America would not be a bystander; America would take Guyana’s side.
The Opposition heard the statement, but they play dumb and deaf. It was as if Marco Rubio was never here; had never uttered such a strong, unreserved support for Guyana. Even if the Opposition did not listen to the press conference hosted by President Irfaan Ali and Secretary Rubio, they must have heard the statement on radio, the TV, or read it in the newspapers or in the thousands of social media postings.
The President, his cabinet and the General Secretary of the PPP, and other national entities have expressed Guyana’s gratitude to Secretary Rubio and to America for their support against the Venezuelan bully. The Opposition remain stone-cold silent. This is why more and more Guyanese are rejecting the Opposition, because people expect that the Opposition would put aside silly political division in times when Guyana faces a military threat from any bully.
Outside of the staunch support for Guyana against Maduro and the Venezuelan military, Secretary of State Marco Rubio also hailed Guyana’s transformation, aligning the most exciting transformative development in the Americas at this time with President Dr. Irfaan Ali’s leadership. “Guyana’s economic transformation under President Ali’s leadership has been truly remarkable,” a Facebook post from the US Department of State noted, echoing words Secretary Rubio used in Guyana.
The Opposition completely ignored the acknowledgement from Secretary Rubio of the visible transformation taking place in Guyana. They ignored Secretary Rubio’s endorsement of the economic and social development agenda in Guyana, and Secretary Rubio’s acknowledgement of the democratic credentials of our country.
America is not alone in acknowledging the transformation taking place in Guyana. The IMF, the World Bank, the IDB, the CDB, the African Development Bank, EXIM banks in the UK, the USA, Europe, China, India have all acknowledged the “most exciting” transformative development taking place in the world is in Guyana.
The Opposition have latched on to a misguided statement made in Suriname, when Secretary Rubio made reference to “poorly constructed highways” in Guyana. Clearly, Secretary Rubio was misinformed, and used the misinformation as part of the geopolitical skirmish America is having with China.
The fact is that the roadways Secretary Rubio travelled on and their condition have nothing to do with China. The roadway from the CJIA to Craig is under construction, and the Heroes Highway was not constructed by any Chinese company, but by local contractors. Instead of joining with the President and the Government to provide Secretary Rubio with accurate information, the Opposition has latched on to the incorrect statement and are trying desperately to use the statement as confirmation of corruption and poor construction.
In the process, the Opposition have jumped on an “anti-China” wagon. This is wholly unpatriotic, since China has been a close friend and development partner during times when the PPP has been in power and during times when the PNC has been in power.
The PPP government had started the transformation of the East Bank Demerara Highway before 2015. After 2015, and for five years until 2020, the transformation of the East Bank Highway to a four-lane road literally came to a halt. Not one inch of work was done during that period by the PNC-led APNU/AFC government. Since 2020, construction resumed with a total transformation of the Demerara highways on the East Coast and East Bank, and the same is taking place on the West Bank and West Coast. In this phase, there is some chaos and some inconvenience with travel.
Wherever such major works are taking place: in Guyana, in the Caribbean, in America, in Europe, anywhere; travel would be inconvenient and never smooth.
As for the Heroes Highway, China has nothing to do with this beautiful highway. We cannot swear that the Heroes Highway is a perfect highway, the best in the world; but we can say that it is better than many highways in America that Secretary Rubio travels on right now. None of those highways has caused anyone in America to have “concussions”; and, surely, Secretary Rubio had no concussion issue during his entire trip to the Caribbean.
Secretary Rubio exaggerated in urging Caricom countries to abandon any close relationship with China. It does not mean that we must jump and begin to attack China. TRUST is critical. America can trust Guyana; China can trust Guyana under the leadership of President Irfaan Ali and the PPP. In Elections 2025, TRUST will be front and centre. People know they can trust the PPP. They know they have a trust problem with the Opposition.
