Lincoln Lewis, General Secretary, Guyana Trades Union Congress (GTUC) and columnist in Village Voice News, has sharply criticised President Irfaan Ali’s leadership, calling his time in office a series of “disappointing failures.” According to Lewis, Ali, who assumed office in August 2020, has demonstrated an inability to rise to the challenges of the presidency and has consistently failed to meet the expectations set during his campaign.
Inherited a legacy of promises and a country eager for change
When Ali took office, he inherited a legacy of promises and a country eager for change. Campaigning on a platform that included renegotiating the ExxonMobil contract, improving public sector salaries, reopening sugar estates, reducing presidential salaries, restoring free university education, and rooting out corruption, many hoped Ali would bring about the leadership Guyana needed. However, as Lewis points out, President Ali has failed to deliver on these key promises, and his time in office has been marked by political missteps and unfulfilled commitments.
“Ali came into office amidst a cloud of controversy, with 19 fraud charges hanging over his head. Despite that, there was hope he would overcome this and focus on the national interest,” Lewis writes. “However, three years into his presidency, it is evident that Ali’s leadership has been defined more by childish tantrums and political immaturity than by the maturity expected of a national leader.”
Troubling lack of clarity and direction
Lewis emphasises that while a probationary period is expected for any new leader, Ali’s failure to make progress after more than 100 days in office, and now more than three years, shows a troubling lack of clarity and direction. According to Lewis, instead of growing into the role, President Ali has acted in ways that undermine the gravity of the presidency.
One of the most notable instances of Ali’s immaturity, according to Lewis, was his refusal to engage with the Leader of the Opposition on constitutional matters. This was after a minor public snub, when the opposition leader declined a handshake from Ali. Lewis argues that the refusal to engage on state matters because of hurt feelings is an unprofessional and childish response from a head of state.
“His behavior has often resembled a comedy show rather than the dignified representation expected from the leader of a nation,” Lewis writes. “Rather than fostering unity or serious discussion, President Ali’s actions have only served to trivialise the office he holds.”
Further undermining Ali’s leadership is the visible influence of former President Bharrat Jagdeo, who Lewis suggests remains the true power behind the throne. Jagdeo, who held office as president for over a decade, has frequently publicly undermined Ali’s decisions, including on issues such as the controversial cash grant program and the oil refinery project with the Dominican Republic. Lewis argues that Jagdeo’s clear dominance paints a picture of a leader who is more of a puppet than a president, unable to make decisions without consulting his predecessor.
“The office of the president and commander-in-chief should not be reduced to a mere symbol,” Lewis states. “Yet under Ali, these positions have become increasingly meaningless as the country watches a leader who cannot navigate his responsibilities effectively.”
Deepening inequality in Guyana, despite the country’s oil wealth
One of the most glaring failures Lewis points to is the deepening inequality in Guyana, despite the country’s oil wealth. While Guyana’s economy is growing rapidly, the benefits of this growth have not been felt by the broader population. The gap between the rich and poor continues to widen, and poverty remains rampant. According to Lewis, Ali’s administration has failed to tackle these issues through meaningful long-term planning, relying instead on short-term gimmicks like cash grants—meant to appeal to voters but doing little to address the root causes of poverty.
“The cash grants may win votes, but they do nothing to combat the structural issues that perpetuate inequality in this country,” Lewis argues. “The people of Guyana need solutions that go beyond electioneering tactics.”
Broken promises
Another broken promise highlighted by Lewis is the restoration of free university education. While Ali campaigned on restoring the constitutional right to free education, Lewis notes that this policy was only partially restored as the country approaches the 2025 election. He points out that the PPP government, during its previous tenure, was responsible for removing free education in the first place, making the restoration seem more like a political move rather than a genuine attempt to improve access to higher education.
Article 27 in the Constitution of Guyana expressly states: “Every citizen has the right to free education from nursery to university as well as to non-formal places where opportunities are provided for education and training.”
Moreover, Ali has not followed through on his promise to reduce his own salary or those of government ministers. Instead, salaries have increased significantly under his leadership. Public servants, too, have seen lower wage increases compared to what was promised during the APNU+AFC coalition government.
The PPP, when in Opposition, condemned the coalition for the one-off increase in the ministries and promised should they enter government to take a hisse count.
The table below shows the President Ali and his ministers, in addition to maintaining the coalition increase, increase their salaries every time increases were announced for public servants.
Another area Lewis pointed out where Ali has failed to deliver is on his promise is to reopen the sugar estates. The veteran trade unionist also contended that despite support from the opposition and even former minister for energy, Raphael Trotman to renegotiate oil contract, Ali has shown no interest in following through with these critical initiatives.
Little evidence of any meaningful urban or infrastructure policies
Despite Ali’s claim to have a PhD in Urban Planning, Lewis suggests that there is little evidence of any meaningful urban or infrastructure policies being implemented under his leadership. He points out that many of the projects being carried out by the current administration are based on plans from the Forbes Burnham era and are often poorly executed, requiring costly repairs soon after completion.
Lewis’ principal concern with Ali’s presidency is that it has been characterised by indecision, political immaturity, and a lack of meaningful progress. While Guyana’s newfound oil wealth offers the potential for growth and development, Ali’s failure to capitalise on this opportunity has left the country in a state of uncertainty.
With general elections approaching, Lewis warns that the future of Guyana looks increasingly bleak under Ali’s leadership. The people, he says, deserve better—better leadership, better solutions, and a government that is committed to improving the lives of all Guyanese citizens, not just those in power.