One year after the historic APNU+AFC coalition ended the 22-year PPP/C grip on the presidency, a rash of controversies has raised doubts about the David Granger’s administration stated commitment to good governance while there are also growing questions about its plans for the limp economy.
In its first year in office, the APNU+AFC coalition government has managed to achieve a number of its objectives but movement on larger issues has been slow. Granger was sworn in as the country’s eighth executive President on May 16 last year and had pledged to govern for all of the people while also touting a “government of national unity” and inclusionary democracy.
There were high expectations that having won the May 11, 2015 elections by the slimmest of margins, the coalition would immediately reach out the opposition PPP/C in the interest of national unity. However, there has been no progress here and the country remains arguably more polarised than ever. Critics say the government’s main focus has been on Guyana’s 50th independence anniversary celebrations while serious problems related to the economy like the sugar industry and job creation have taken a back seat.