Opposition Leader Azruddin Mohamed has called for an immediate increase in public servants’ salaries of at least 100 per cent, the introduction of price controls on essential food items and urgent government intervention to address foreign currency shortages.
Speaking during his first press conference as Opposition Leader on Monday, October 26, Mohamed accused the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) administration of failing to adequately address the rising cost of living, which he said continues to place significant financial pressure on working-class families.
The We Invest in Nationhood (WIN) leader argued that despite Guyana’s expanding petroleum industry and substantial national budgets, many public servants are still struggling to afford groceries and meet their monthly financial obligations.
“I don’t know where we are heading in this country with the cost of living, but clearly the government, they don’t have a plan,” Mohamed charged.
He pointed to the cost of purchasing basic food items, stating that public servants have been contacting him to complain that their salaries are insufficient to meet their everyday needs.
“Every day we are producing 920,000 barrels of oil, we are a rich country but our people are poor,” Mohamed declared.
He continued: “It is sad that public servants would reach out to me stating they can’t make ends meet because when they go to the market is $10,000 and $20,000.”
According to Mohamed, the cost of essential commodities has continued to increase while the government has failed to implement measures capable of bringing sustained relief to consumers.
He argued that the situation was particularly troubling given the financial resources available to the country through oil production and other economic activities.
One of Mohamed’s central proposals was a substantial increase in salaries for public servants, which he maintained should be implemented before the end of the year.
When pressed by reporters to identify the level of increase he considered appropriate, Mohamed called for salaries to be raised by at least 100 per cent, contending that Guyana possesses the resources to afford such an adjustment.
The proposal would effectively double the basic salary of affected workers if implemented as an across-the-board increase.
Mohamed maintained that higher wages were necessary to improve workers’ purchasing power at a time when the cost of food, household necessities and other expenses continues to put pressure on families.
However, he did not present a detailed financial breakdown showing how the proposed increase would be funded, whether it would apply uniformly across the public service, or how the government could sustain the additional expenditure in subsequent years.
According to figures previously disclosed by Public Service Minister Zulfikar Ally, Guyana’s public-sector wage bill stood at approximately $252 billion at the end of 2025.
A doubling of salaries would therefore represent a major recurring financial commitment, although the exact additional cost would depend on which categories of employees were included and how the adjustment was structured.
Mohamed nevertheless insisted that the country’s economic resources should be used to provide greater financial benefits to its citizens rather than leaving workers struggling to meet their basic needs.
Retailers
The Opposition Leader also proposed the introduction of price controls on certain essential food products, arguing that major retailers should be required to reduce their profit margins on commodities that Guyanese families depend on daily.
He specifically referenced Massy while criticising what he described as excessive markups at some commercial establishments.
“We need price control on items, we cannot allow Massy and these places to put on so high markup on items, at least basic food items and certain things our people need, they have to ensure they cut back on their profits,” Mohamed said.
“Certain companies have to cut back on your profits,” he added.
His comments suggested that the government should consider measures to restrict the prices charged for selected necessities, particularly where consumers have limited alternatives.
Mohamed argued that businesses should not be allowed to earn substantial profits on essential commodities while families struggle to afford their groceries.
However, he did not identify the specific products that would be subject to price controls, outline how prices would be determined or explain how such a system would be enforced.
Questions were also raised during the press conference about the potential consequences of price controls for competition and production.
Mohamed did not provide a detailed framework addressing those concerns, instead returning to the need for stronger government intervention and greater support for local producers.
His proposal comes against a backdrop of continued increases in consumer prices. The government’s 2026 Mid-Year Report recorded a 6.7 per cent increase in food prices during the first half of the year, while overall consumer prices rose by 4.4 per cent.
Beyond wages and supermarket prices, Mohamed identified difficulties accessing United States dollars as another major contributor to the cost-of-living problem.
He argued that businesses importing goods into Guyana are facing delays in obtaining foreign currency and completing international payments, which can increase operating costs and place additional pressure on consumers.
“A major blow for us presently with this cost of living is the U.S. dollar,” Mohamed said.
He said that business owners attempting to transfer US$20,000 through commercial banks could be forced to wait two to three weeks before their transactions are processed.
“This is ludicrous,” he declared.
Mohamed argued that delays in obtaining foreign currency create difficulties for importers who must pay overseas suppliers, potentially affecting the cost and availability of goods in the local market.
He also raised concerns about the exchange rate, contending that businesses are now paying approximately $240 for one US dollar, compared with lower rates in previous years.
Bank of Guyana reference rates published on October 21 were $207.98 for buying and $210.45 for selling, meaning the higher figure cited by Mohamed would require clarification as to the type of transaction or market involved.
The Opposition Leader nevertheless maintained that the foreign currency situation was having a significant effect on the prices paid by Guyanese consumers.
He questioned how the government expected the cost of living to decrease without addressing the difficulties experienced by businesses seeking access to US dollars.
Linked
Mohamed also linked the foreign currency situation to Guyana’s gold industry, alleging that substantial sums from gold transactions are not entering the country’s banking system.
Drawing on his experience in the gold business, he estimated that more than US$1 billion in proceeds was remaining outside the local banking system.
“Approximately, based on my investigation, being in the gold business, approximately over US$1 billion not coming into our banking system,” he said.
Mohamed argued that greater inflows of foreign currency from the gold sector could help strengthen the availability of US dollars and reduce some of the pressures being experienced by businesses.
He also called for stronger measures to prevent gold smuggling, including tighter security along Guyana’s borders and greater scrutiny of individuals involved in the industry.
The Opposition Leader pointed to the significant increase in international gold prices, arguing that Guyana should be receiving greater foreign exchange earnings from its gold exports.
“Two years ago, the gold price was around US$2,000 an ounce. Now, today, it’s at a historic US$4,200,” he said.
He argued that the same quantity of gold exported at higher international prices should generate considerably more revenue than in previous years.
The PPP/C administration has previously announced salary increases, tax relief, subsidies, cash grants and agricultural initiatives aimed at improving disposable incomes and addressing rising prices.
Among those measures was a two-year agreement with the Guyana Public Service Union providing for a 10 per cent salary increase in 2024 and a further eight per cent in 2025.
The government has also promoted farmers’ markets and other agricultural interventions intended to improve access to locally produced food and reduce costs to consumers.
However, Mohamed maintained that these interventions have not been sufficient to address the financial difficulties being experienced by ordinary Guyanese.
Discussion