Former Minister Simona Broomes has unleashed a scathing critique of President Irfaan Ali’s approach to governance, accusing him of failing the people of Guyana with his “thug-like” mentality. Speaking exclusively to Village Voice News, Broomes did not hold back, insisting that Ali needs a serious wake-up call about his responsibilities as president.
“For heaven’s sake, somebody has to remind him that he’s sitting in the office of the President of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana,” Broomes stated, referring to Ali’s inconsistent leadership style. “This thug-like attitude and mentality he’s demonstrating is unacceptable. He’s supposed to be leading a nation, not playing politics like it’s a game.”
Broomes pointed specifically to Ali’s recent handling of government affairs, including his controversial 5:30 a.m. meeting last November with ministers, contractors, and public servants. In that early morning meeting, the president publicly chastised his team for poor performance, yet failed to establish any real system of accountability to address the issues at hand.
“How can you criticise people when you’re not enforcing any structure that demands accountability? It’s utterly hypocritical,” she said, highlighting Ali’s failure to implement lasting reforms or policies that would drive genuine change.
The former A Partnership for National Unity and Alliance for Change (APNU+AFC) minister also expressed frustration with Ali’s repeated blunders in communication. She also lambasted the fact every time the president speaks his vice president,Bharrat Jagdeo, has to come out and clear the air or give clarity.
Broomes called out the president for his repeated vague promises, such as the $100,000 cash grant that was supposed to be distributed by November 2024. Yet, as the year ended, many Guyanese still had not received the funds. “First it was November, then it was the end of the year, and now you don’t know when,” she remarked. “This is the same situation we saw with the COVID-19 cash grants, people are still holding their pink slips, waiting for money that never came.”
The former minister accused Ali of making statements without any follow-through or substance, leaving the public unable to hold him accountable. “It’s not okay for the president to talk just for talking’s sake,” she said. “There is no clarity, no responsibility, and no accountability. And yet, we as a people are supposed to accept this?”
She questioned the broader implications of Ali’s leadership style, asking, “Are we really okay with this as a nation? Is this the legacy we want to hand to future generations? A legacy of broken promises and ineffective leadership?”
In her strongest words yet, Broomes declared, “This can’t be business as usual. We cannot continue accepting this kind of leadership. The people of Guyana deserve more, and we must demand better.”
Broomes’s critique underscores the growing disillusionment with President Ali’s administration, which continues to face accusations of incompetence, mismanagement, and broken promises. As Guyana moves into the future, many are beginning to wonder if the “One Guyana” vision will ever translate into real, tangible progress—or if it’s just another empty slogan.