WIN’s Mohamed promises Region 10 aluminium plant, glass factory

Last Updated on Thursday, 28 August 2025, 22:24 by Writer

Leader of the We Invest in Nationhood (WIN), Azruddin Mohamed on Wednesday night promised to establish an aluminium plant and a glass factory in Linden to create jobs and generate more money.

“This region needs jobs. Young people need opportunities and rest assured, we want to set up an aluminum plant here,” he said to rousing applause by the well-attended political meeting in Linden.

Portraying an image that “my life is not about power, title and rank”, he said his mission is to empower Guyanese and transform Region 10 (Upper Demerara-Upper Berbice). In clear reference to bauxite production, he said there are the hundreds of billions of dollars from that Region but the “red party” was keeping it down. “They know they don’t get votes here but I know that I cleaning up all the votes in Region 10,” he said.

Mr Mohamed said if WIN is victorious in Monday’s general and regional elections, his administration would ensure that there is value-creation Linden bauxite output. “All the bauxite going out the country but we’re going to ensure the bauxite is going out to make the same aluminium products,” he said. He said the plan includes making Guyanese shareholders in such companies.

Alumina is used to make aluminium metal, among other products.

A Partnership for National Unity (APNU), in its 2025 election manifesto, said it would commission an expert study to identify options for an alumina plant. “Restarting alumina production in Linden faces several formidable challenges, such as international competition, access to markets, cheap energy, and the quality and size of our bauxite deposits,” APNU said.

The incumbent People’s Progressive Party Civic (PPPC), in its package of promises, similarly said it would examine whether an alumina plant would make sense. “With the landing onshore of our gas resources, including the second pipeline landing in Berbice, explore the viability of alumina refining, in collaboration with private investors,” that party said.

Due to an economic downturn and the eventual collapse of the bauxite industry, the alumina plant, which was built by the then Demerara Bauxite Company (DEMBA) in 1961, was closed in 1981 and more than 1,500 workers were laid off.

The WIN leader said his party wants to also build a glass factory in Linden to create more jobs and revenue. “More money will be circulating in Region 10. It’s all about empowering the people. Just how dem boys got deep pockets, I want my people to get deep pockets too,” he said. Guyana’s silica sand is currently being exported to the Dominican Republic for the manufacture of glass products.

“Linden is the heartland of Guyana and the WIN party will show you how we will transform Linden,” Mr Mohamed said.

Following on the heels of President Irfaan Ali signalling that Guyanese would receive another cash grant before year-end, Mr Mohamed said he would deliver a “larger” payout in time for Christmas.

Mr Mohamed said government would be repossessing lands stretching from Linden to Rockstone and distributing them to residents for housing purposes as a matter of “first preference”.

He also said a University of Guyana campus would be built in Linden “for the people” of Region 10. APNU has made a similar promise if it gets into government. Like the PPPC and APNU, he promised to set up a development bank to finance businesses. He said a WIN administration would modernise the Linden Hospital Complex and health centers and ensure they are properly stocked and staffed with highly-paid doctors and nurses.

Referring to several police deaths in Linden in recent years, he vowed that that the Guyana Police Force would be held accountable. “Too much bloodshed, too much lives have been lost and I will ensure that the Commissioner of Police and the Commander must get it right. We are not going tolerate police officers murdering people,” he said. He also said there would be zero tolerance against ministers seeking favours from the police. “This is the only way we are going to get law and order in this country,” he said.

He also told attendees that “I’m going to ensure that we stamp out corruption” and invest those monies in paying pensioners, public servants, children, among others. “Corruption is like a mosquito. It sucks the blood of a common man,” said Mr Mohamed who has been sanctioned by the United States for alleged evasion of more than US$50 million in taxes payable to the Guyana government on more than 10,000 kilograms of gold.

He restated that the United States Federal Bureau of Investigation would be called in to investigate several homicides and the death of 11-year-old Adrianna Younge whose body was found in a hotel pool at Tuschen, East Bank Essequibo earlier this year. Two independent autopsies found that she died by drowning.