Fact or Fiction? Dr Jagdeo Dissects AFC’s Political Narrative Questions and AFC’s Integrity in Politics.
The recent landmark approval of a US$526 million loan by the Export-Import Bank of the United States (US EXIM Bank) to support Guyana’s transformative gas-to-energy project has brought to light the extent of misinformation propagated by the Alliance For Change (AFC). General Secretary of the People’s Progressive Party (PPP), Dr Bharrat Jagdeo, criticized the opposition’s tactics during a press conference held at Freedom House on Friday.
Dr Jagdeo pointed out how the AFC had misrepresented the loan approval status, attempting to deceive the Guyanese public about the viability of the gas-to-energy project. He highlighted that the approval serves as evidence of the AFC’s willingness to spread falsehoods for political gain.
“This approval is positive, but it is also demonstrative of the extent of the lies that the AFC would tell, saying that this project was not approved and would never be approved and bringing that to the Guyanese public in a situation where it could be easily proven otherwise,” Dr. Jagdeo said.
He further emphasized: “If you can lie to such an extent in such a set of circumstances, how many other lies would you tell or issues you would fabricate to score cheap political points?”
Dr Jagdeo criticized the opposition’s actions, labeling them as pathological, and lamented the seriousness of their attempts to derail development initiatives. He reassured the public that the government’s commitment to the project remains steadfast, with measures in place to recover costs incurred through retroactive financing included in the EXIM Bank’s loan.
The US EXIM Bank’s funding represents approximately 25 percent of the total US$1.8 billion project cost, with the remaining portion financed through local funds and a unique agreement with ExxonMobil. Together with its co-venture partners, CNOOC Petroleum Guyana Limited and Hess Guyana Exploration, ExxonMobil Guyana is collaborating with the government to advance the project.
The gas-to-energy project will feature a 200km, 12-inch diameter pipeline transporting natural gas from the Liza Phase One and Liza Phase Two FPSOs to a power plant and natural gas liquids (NGL) facility in Wales, West Bank Demerara. The pipeline will traverse the West Coast of Demerara (WCD) and extend approximately 25 kilometers to the project’s facilities.
The project, expected to become operational by the first half of 2025, promises to be a game-changer for Guyana’s energy sector, reducing energy costs and advancing the country’s economic development.
Dr Jagdeo affirmed the government’s focus on development while calling out detractors for their baseless claims. “This approval is positive and also demonstrative of the extent of the lies that the AFC would tell,” he reiterated.
The Alliance For Change (AFC) is increasingly proving to be a party without any substantial voter base or influence in Guyana. With no significant support or vote bank in the country, the AFC is relying on PNC to stay relevant. Nigel Hughes, in particular, is attempting to gain favour with the People’s National Congress (PNC) leader Aubrey Norton by claiming he has strong support among Afro-Guyanese.
However, the Indo-Guyanese community has firmly rejected the AFC due to its past actions, such as destroying the livelihoods of sugar factory workers. The People’s Progressive Party (PPP) must recognize that the AFC is a party with no future, policies, or real followers. Engaging with their propaganda is futile, as research indicates that the AFC will not secure any seats in the upcoming elections. Hughes is merely attempting to hijack the PNC’s support to project himself as a leader with a following among Afro-Guyanese.
Aubrey Norton should wake up and take control of his PNC party. If he doesn’t take decisive action to assert his leadership, it could undermine his authority and weaken his influence within the party. Nigel Hughes may be strategically positioning himself, and Norton’s inability to recognize or address this could lead to internal fragmentation.
The PNC intellectuals are fully aware of Nigel Hughes’ plans within the party and are increasingly frustrated with Aubrey Norton’s failure to address the division brewing among Afro-Guyanese voters. This internal discord is driving many traditional PNC supporters toward the PPP, which has consistently kept its promises and delivered development across the country. Both Nigel Hughes and Aubrey Norton must recognize that relying solely on Afro-Guyanese votes will not secure an election victory. The sooner they analyze this reality and take corrective action, the better it will be for the PNC’s Afro-Guyanese voters.
The strategy for Dr. Bharrat Jagdeo and the PPP should be clear: Ignore the AFC entirely. Hughes’ attempts to manipulate the political landscape, including his internal maneuvers with Norton, are desperate moves by the AFC party without credibility or voter backing. It is also worth noting that Norton should be cautious of Hughes’ intentions, as his actions could potentially weaken the PNC’s longstanding Afro-Guyanese support base.
Both Hughes and Norton appear to be building unrealistic political aspirations without recognizing that forming a government without broad-based support is impossible. The PPP should focus on its development agenda and leave the AFC to grapple with its diminishing relevance and internal power struggles.