While President Irfaan Ali champions the ‘One Guyana’ initiative, claiming that it will foster national unity and shared prosperity, there is growing concern that his government’s investments are leaving many Guyanese citizens behind. The emphasis on attracting large-scale foreign investments has created an environment where only a select few benefit, effectively sidelining large portions of the population from the country’s economic progress.
The exclusion contradicts Guyana’s constitutional principles, particularly the right of all citizens to participate equally in the country’s development. It also ignores repeated calls by local stakeholders and members of the United States (U.S) Joe Biden administration to foster a society on inclusive democracy and shared prosperity.
In July 2022, U.S Vice President Kamala Harris told President Ali the U.S government looked forward to continuing collaboration with his government “in promoting inclusive democracy, economic development, and security for all Guyanese…” U.S Secretary of State Antony Blinken reiterating the administration’s support said “Guyana remains a key partner as we work to bolster food and energy security, promote shared prosperity and inclusive growth, strengthen transparency, and safeguard the environment.”
At the press conference yesterday, President Ali reiterated his commitment to putting people first, stating that the government’s focus would not be swayed by the upcoming elections. He assured citizens that the government’s agenda would remain centered on their well-being. However, these words ring hollow when contrasted with the reality of economic exclusion.
Large-scale projects, especially in the oil and gas sectors, have failed to create meaningful opportunities for the majority of Guyanese. Instead, they have enriched a small group of well-connected individuals and foreign corporations, while many local businesses and citizens, especially those in Opposition stronghold, rural and indigenous communities, are left without a seat at the table. This political Opposition has repeatedly lambasted this policy approach, which they labelled “friends, families and favourities.”
This pattern of exclusion stands in stark contrast to the core values enshrined in the Guyanese Constitution, particularly the rights to inclusion and equal opportunity. Article 13 of the Constitution guarantees every citizen the right to participate in the economic and political life of the country. Yet, for many, the current reality is one of being shut out from these vital opportunities. The government’s failure to prioritise local participation in major investments is not just a missed opportunity for growth; it’s a violation of the constitutional principles that should guide national development.
The government’s focus on ‘One Guyana,’ as a vision for national unity, seems increasingly at odds with the government’s actual practices. President Ali’s insistence that ‘One Guyana’ is about a cohesive, integrated nation ignores the divisions caused by economic inequality. While the government espouses national unity, its actions are reinforcing a two-tiered society—one where the privileged few reap the rewards of oil wealth, while the majority remain marginalised.
A recent World Bank report stated at least half the population lives in poverty, on less than US$5.50 or $1200.
Furthermore, the emphasis on ‘One Guyana’ risks overshadowing the foundational national motto: “One People, One Nation, One Destiny.” This motto embodies the vision of an inclusive society where all citizens, regardless of their background, have equal access to opportunities and resources. Under the current government, however, many Guyanese are being denied this right.
The failure to implement policies that genuinely promote shared prosperity contradicts the very essence of national unity that ‘One Guyana’ purports to champion. In the end, unless the government shifts its approach to ensure that all citizens, regardless of their social or economic status, can fully participate in and benefit from the country’s growth, the dream of ‘One Guyana’ will remain an empty slogan—one that serves the interests of the few, not the many.