Guyana, a small country in South America that awaits a better future thanks to the largest oil reserves on the planet, is called general elections on Monday under the pressure of its gigantic neighbor Le Venezuela, whose complaints about Essequibo are always more pressing.
Around 750,000 voters (including the diaspora), of a population of 850,000 inhabitants, most of which live in poverty, are called to this legislative election in a shift that crowns the candidate whose party came out. The winner will be in charge of the management of the immense unexpected oil that made it possible to quadruple the state budget, which rose to $ 6.7 billion in 2025. The country, which began the exploitation of oil in 2019, hopes to make its production of 650,000 barrels per day for one million in 2030.
Consequently, Guyana can boast the greatest growth in Latin America. In 2024, it amounted to 43.6%. It is necessary to “discern between growth and development, ensure that wealth is in development, and not only on roads and infrastructure. We must integrate housing, electricity, hospitals”, however, Neville Bissimber temperaments, a professor of law at the University of Guyana.
Three contestants in the race
According to most observers, the vote takes place between three contestants: outgoing president Irfaan Ali (PPP PPP Party PPP), the opposition candidate Aubrey Norton (APNU, the coalition association for a new unit) and the Azruddin Mohamed, Billionaire elevators, who just created his victory party (we won/we winter in the nation) Alter this bi-partisan system.
The vote is traditionally emerging around ethnic lines among populations of Indian origin (President Irfaan Ali’s party), and those of Afro-Guyania (d’Antey Norton). Irfaan Ali is pointing to a second term, five years after succeeding David Granger (APNU). He campaigned about the many achievements of his government that has sailed in new oil income.
“Your time has passed!” He launched to his opponent Aubrey Norton, who promises “works” and accuses the “corrupt regime” that “does not take measure to remedy” life. Mohamed Azruddin billionaire sulfond, who made a fortune in the extraction of gold and is under the blow of sanctions in the United States that criticize him for tax evasion, promises a great kick in the tingling with sometimes demagogic promises. “He is a businessman who has succeeded and some people think he can solve Guyana’s problems. And he will not be corrupt since he is already rich,” said Mark Jones, a construction worker.
Cost of living
In the Stabroek market, in the center of Georgetown, Ani Charles, 63-year-old Afro-Guyan merchant, does not take off. “We live better before starting pumping oil. The cost of living only increases. The rich are enriched and the poorest poor,” protested behind their position.
A few meters away, Halim Khan, an Indogyanian businessman, also 63, is a fervent defender of Irfaan Ali. “The oil wealth is well spent. Infrastructure, new hospitals, new roads …”, he said, also highlighting the “leadership” of the president in the crisis with Venezuela in Essequibo, while Washington supported this historical dispute.
In 2019, Venezuela relaunched its statements about the territory of Essequibo, which represents two thirds of Guyania territory, especially chosen as governor, while Caracas does not exercise power. Guyana believes that the design of his border, dating from the English colonial era, was ratified in 1899 and asked the International Court of Justice to ratify him. Venezuela ensures that the Essequibo river is the natural border, as in 1777 at the time of Spanish colonization.
Source: BFM TV
