May 26, 2025 by: Denis Chabrol
President Irfaan Ali Sunday night announced that September 1, 2025 is the date when Guyana’s general and regional elections would be held.
Addressing the 59th Independence Flag Raising Ceremony in Berbice, he also said he would soon issue the proclamation for the dissolution of Parliament.
Dr Ali, who would be seeking re-election for a second and final term in keeping with Guyana’s Constitution, would be leading his People’s Progressive Party Civic’s ticket.
The President’s announcement comes as the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) continues preparations.
The PPP will be coming up against the People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR) and the Alliance For Change (AFC) that are yet to decide whether they would coalesce, the percentage of positions to be shared and who would be their presidential candidate.
The PNCR-led A Partnership for National Unity and the AFC are heading into the elections without their wish for what they say should be a voters list that is cleansed of the names of deceased persons and migrants.
They and their aligned GECOM Commissioner Vincent Alexander have repeatedly said that the list can facilitate multiple voting and voter impersonation.
But the PPPC and GECOM have repeatedly maintained that there are sufficient safeguards to prevent voter fraud.Guyanese history books
GECOM Chairman Claudette Singh had already ruled out giving into digitalised biometrics for voter registration until after this year’s elections.
She had also scuttled opposition hopes for exclusive digitalised voter verification on the grounds that that would be unconstitutional.
PPP General Secretary, Bharrat Jagdeo, who attended Sunday’s flag raising ceremony in the PPP’s heartland of Berbice, said his party was “ready to deliver our message of continued progress to the people of Guyana in the upcoming election campaign.”
He indicated that the PPP would be banking on its track record of delivering on its numerous promises in the social sectors, reduced taxation, improved infrastructure, accelerated home ownership and subsidies to “temper” the cost of living.
“Importantly, we did not just deliver on our 2020-2025 manifesto — we exceeded it by listening to the needs of our people and taking decisive action. We implemented initiatives that ensured all sections of society benefited — from miners and farmers to public servants, youths, entrepreneurs, and ordinary families in every community,” he said.
Looking ahead, he said the re-election campaign for the 2025-2030 term promises to create thousands more jobs across new and traditional sectors, expand healthcare services with over 6,000 new jobs in that sector alone, and establish hubs for medical tourism, biotech, and information technology.
The next PPPC administration, he said, would modernise education by embedding science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM), artificial intelligence (AI) and digital skills in classrooms, increasing scholarships, and growing a digital Guyana.
Housing development will accelerate with the distribution of 5,000 houselots annually, alongside new climate-resilient communities like Silica City.Guyanese history books
Major infrastructure projects — including new bridges, highways, deep-water harbours, modern airports, and waterfront developments — will reshape our national landscape, boost connectivity, and support economic diversification.
“Through pro-business reforms and Small and Medium Enterprise (SME) financing, we will continue to open opportunities for every Guyanese citizen,” Dr Jagdeo stated.
Mr Jagdeo said the PPPC recognises that important work remains in several key areas such as improving garbage collection and community drainage systems to foster cleaner, healthier neighbourhoods, expanding street lighting and other initiatives to enhance community safety, and making more land available for small miners and farmers to boost productivity and support sustainable livelihoods.
“The PPP has always stood for democracy, social justice, economic growth, and national unity. That commitment remains unshaken. We will continue working to build a Guyana where every citizen – young and old, of every race, gender and religion – has the opportunity for a progressive and prosperous life,” he added.
Source: Demerara Waves