APNU accuses gov’t of politically motivated withholding of population count, finance minister to seek update from Stats Bureau

Last Updated on Sunday, 30 November 2025, 13:49 by Writer

The opposition A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) at the weekend assailed the Irfaan Ali administration for deliberately refusing to disclose the results of the 2022 population and housing census to secure a political advantage over its opponents, while at the same time putting planners at a disadvantage.

“It is APNU’s considered opinion that the census is being deliberately withheld to give the PPP a political advantage over other parties, as accurate population figures are critical for political planning, strategic decision‑making, and ensuring a fair and competitive democratic environment,” that 12-seat parliamentary opposition party said in a statement.

Local Government Elections could be held some time in the coming months.

APNU accused the People’s Progressive Party Civic (PPPC) administration of refusing to publish the “taxpayer-funded” census results for partisan benefit, further alleging that that amounts to “institutional corruption” because public resources were being manipulated for the PPP’s political purposes rather than for the country’s development. “By refusing to publish the census, the PPP has created a vacuum that leaves businesses, NGOs, civil society, and international institutions without the national data required for planning, accountability, and development. This deliberate withholding of national statistics undermines transparency, weakens institutional credibility, and erodes public trust,” APNU added.

Unofficially, the report is expected to say that Guyana’s population has increased from 746,955 in the 2012 census to about 812,000 in the 2022 census.

Notably, foreign secretary Robert Persaud had earlier this year said there are “close to 100,000 persons of direct or indirect Venezuelan ancestry currently in Guyana.” There are also an increasing number of Cubans, Indians, Bangladeshis and nationals of Trinidad and Tobago living and working here.

Finance minister Dr Ashni Singh, who had previously stated that the census is important for policy-making and public investment decisions, would only say earlier this month that he would have to ask the Bureau of Statistics for an update. “This is very high on my agenda for discussion with the Chief Statistician because I, too, would like to see it…because we, as a government, would like it to be concluded and issued very soon,” he said.

APNU demanded that government disclose how GY$2 billion was spent on the 2022 national census and what has caused the protracted delay in releasing the results of that population count that began in 2022.

“A G$2 billion census cannot vanish into silence. Guyanese deserve answers, transparency, and the immediate release of the 2022 results,” the People’s National Congress Reform  said in a statement. APNU’s demands are an immediate publication of the 2022 census report, a transparent breakdown of census expenditures, stronger institutional safeguards for future censuses, and a detailed explanation for the delays and a timetable for completion.

Field staff had on September 15, 2022 begun collecting data but in August 2023 the government had said that those workers had returned to a number of areas to ensure households that were not counted initially were included.

Enumeration for the 2022 census began on 15 September 2022 following Guyana’s standard ten‑year national cycle.

The previous census was conducted in 2012, making the 2022 exercise essential for updating the country’s demographic, social, and economic baseline.