OPINION: When Guyanese spat in the face of politicians

Last Updated on Tuesday, 2 September 2025, 22:48 by Writer

by GHK Lall

Whatever the manner I try to frame Elections Day, September 1, 2025, I sense some falling short of the mark. Still, the mind and circumstances dictate effort.

In Churchillian terms: never has so much that’s promised been rejected by so many who had so little. In the sign language of the roaring Roman amphitheater: a resounding thumbs down. Or, in more modern street expression: a finger in the face for the troubles. In the chants of hippies: tune out, shut out, low turnout. In the tones of oil, what Guyana is now known globally for: who have anticipated that Guyanese will turn out to be such a low energy, low voltage, low watt, set of people?

I didn’t. Who could have? High turn down leading to low turnout. Nonetheless, a few things are now beginning to make sense. Though it had to wait for Monday, September 1st to end, so confirmation can then limp in on crippled wings. Social media was in disbelief. Cyberspace lost its speed. My interest started waning a while back, moves on diminishing reserves.

First, those crowds weren’t really crowds in the true sense of the word. Those crowds were another of the cheap contraptions at which the rulers are so good. The opposition didn’t look too rosy, with its crowd optics. All the noise meant nothing. All the forced energy was just that – nothing but forced energy. Because when the last bus – whether volunteered or coerced or engaged – had rolled the last yard, it was one big sham. Another scam run on Guyanese by those interested in one thing only: power. How to get into power? Or stay in power by any means fair or foul. It has been mostly foul. All of this started to trickle in, when the last ballot was cast, when the first stat started taking effect.

Second, something else was proven when Monday’s dusk, then dark, took control. The diehards and those who had much to lose were the ones that mainly came out. That’s expected. Throughout the day, the calls and questions were consistent: something is wrong; why are all these places so close to empty, actually empty, have that abandoned look? For me, that was unexpected. How to interpret unconfirmed voter malaise, especially in the elections of 2025?

Third, I came to this conclusion when the last station door closed. The Guyanese people didn’t believe. They stayed home, mailed in their disinterest. Also, they registered their disillusionment. And their fears, too, which can’t be discounted. They refuse to nibble at all the cream and cheese, all the money and honey and sweet delicacies dangled before them. The great, big cornucopia of promises that drenched potential voters from left and right, and above and under, all meant nothing. Zilch.

Fourth, I did get one small thing right. After all the campaigning and courting, the private polls and prancing, the big people didn’t know where they really stood. Remember that piece about the law of unintended consequences? It focused on the fear factor. If supporters turn out, they may have to prove, with mechanisms in place to make that possible. Since the numbers could be run for the communities, then ideas could be stirred as to who voted for whom. So, that risk wasn’t taken, which resulted in the turnout being as it was. Better to stay home and claim burnout, than turnout and be accused of betrayal.

Fifth, I wrote repeatedly that trust (it’s worth repeating – TRUST) would feature significantly, leave an impressive mark on 9/1. It was more where the voter went, and not so much the empty polling stations, vacant polling booths, untouched polling papers. Many of the politicians had lied and deceived and misled the people so often, even when they were hungry and crying for help. Thus, how to believe them now? On what grounds to trust them? More rich promises that could easily be forgotten or disowned by unprincipled men and women when all the clamors of elections are over. Why? Why? Why trust these craven, hellish characters? The irony is that after all the incentives are put on the table, people in need turned their backs. Get out of this house. Get out of my space. Get out of my sight. Get out of my life. I would retire quietly.

Sixth, there is a tragedy here. Regardless of who wins, and however that winning is sliced, the real winner is Exxon. More oil money, robust oil management, a credible oil partnership, all of those are now backburner issues for the foreseeable future. Have a drink on me, Lord Alistair Routledge of Demerara and Essequibo. The bill can be emailed.

Finally, for one day, less than 10 minutes, in Guyana, all the power rested in the hands of the people. They used that power to kick mostly vulgar, shady untrustworthy politicians for six. The conmen had it coming, and they collected in spades. I cannot think of a more deserving set of citizens, largely villains. They know who they are. Now, the finger-pointing and fighting will begin, with no one letting up, letting go.

Conclusion: it is said that voters are fickle. On E-Day 2025, voters reaped with a sickle. The most crucial elections in Guyana turned out to be a sorrowful wake house.