Irfaan Ali has been re-elected for a second term as President of Guyana. This country has swiftly positioned itself as one of the most important players in the international oil markets. The election results announced Wednesday indicate that Ali’s party, the People’s Progressive Party (PPP), has overwhelming support. The Indo-Guyanese community stood firmly with them. At 45, the former head of the World Health Organisation is preparing for a second five-year term. At the same time, she benefits and suffers from the country’s exploding oil windfall.
Ali’s government has used oil revenue shrewdly to invest in infrastructure and public services. During his first presidency, he focused on building many roads, classrooms, and health facilities. Each of these improvements brought an increased quality of life to thousands of citizens. Ali even instituted a new policy that made education at the state university free. His was an inclusive vision, where every Guyanese would be able to access higher learning.
Throughout this recent election cycle, Ali had to deal with strong competition from his top competitor, Azruddin Mohamed. Often referred to as the “Guyanese Trump,” Azruddin wowed voters with his fiery, populist rhetoric. Despite this challenge, Ali’s party secured a decisive victory, garnering a substantial portion of the vote while Mohamed’s party finished second with 24.8 percent. This outcome is a testament to the political polarization in Guyana, and the overwhelming support Ali enjoys with his base.
The US is already supporting Ali’s nascent administration. This support would go a long way to solidifying strong diplomatic and economic relationships. Ali’s presidency, though a fresh twist, isn’t without its diplomatic challenges. For one, he needs to resolve the long-standing Guyana-Venezuela territorial dispute. This aggressive, militaristic, and imperialistic neighboring nation has long claimed large sections of Guyanese territory. First and foremost, restoring confidence in the electoral process will be important for safeguarding regional stability and the support of the international community.
Moreover, Ali’s government is under pressure to ensure that the benefits of Guyana’s vast oil resources reach all segments of society. It’s home to the world’s largest oil reserves per capita. More than 50 percent of its population continues to face poverty. Production is projected to reach one million barrels per day by 2030. Ali now faces the challenge of translating this windfall into tangible gains for his constituents, particularly in downstate rural and suburban communities where the economic divides are most pronounced.
Looking ahead, Ali was perhaps most optimistic about the prospects for advancing US-India relations, especially fostering a closer relationship with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. What he understood was that intense, personal cooperation between the two countries’ agencies is needed. This historic partnership will ensure that their growing relationship brings maximum mutual benefit.
Furthermore, Ali’s administration has seen the national budget quadruple to approximately $6.7 billion by 2025, thanks to prudent management of oil revenues. This major increase means new opportunities for multimodal, comprehensive development projects—integrating economic development, environmental, and equity goals. It still very much falls on Ali to meet the needs of these vulnerable populations and make sure that resources are deployed equitably.
