Opposition Leader Azruddin Mohamed yesterday criticised President Irfaan Ali’s approach to consultation with the opposition and the management of Guyana’s oil and gas sector, accusing the government of acting only after pressure is brought upon it.
Mohamed’s comments came in response to Ali’s remarks on Tuesday at a press conference about when he would consult the Opposition Leader on matters of national importance.
According to Mohamed, Ali’s position that consultation would take place only where constitutionally required demonstrates that the PPP/C administration does not regard political consultation as a priority. “The PPP consults when it is forced to consult,” he expressed.
The issue of consultation has been around following the 2025 general elections, which saw Mohamed’s We Invest in Nationhood (WIN) emerge as the main opposition party with 16 seats in the National Assembly.
Mohamed has argued that consultation should extend beyond situations where it is expressly mandated by the Constitution.
He also spoke about Ali’s intention to seek expert advice on Guyana’s oil and gas sector, describing the move as another example of a reactive approach to governance. “That is the problem. Always after the fact,” Mohamed said.
Mohamed further pointed out that the government should have been preparing for the scale of the country’s oil wealth years ago rather than turning to experts after problems emerge. “Guyana has been producing oil for years. Where was the preparedness? Where was the expertise? Where were the systems?” he asked.
Mohamed also questioned whether Guyanese are benefiting sufficiently from the country’s petroleum revenues. He said that at an oil price of US$80 per barrel, Guyana is receiving approximately $6.3 billion daily.
He said the country’s oil-fuelled revenues could result in a national budget of approximately $2 trillion early next year, while poverty remains a concern for many households.
“Brace yourselves for a $2 trillion budget early next year, while more than half of Guyanese continue to live in poverty,” Mohamed said, noting that the size of the national budget alone should not be the measure of success. “People must not just hear about the trillions. They must feel it,” he said.
Discussion