Conversations with opposition politicians and critics of the government, business people and others (commoners) around the country find many underrating Bharrat Jagdeo’s political savviness and acumen much to their electoral detriment. It will be an uphill task to defeat him in the 2025 elections.
His rise to power and his leadership style have sparked admiration as well as criticism, but regardless of one’s political stance on the PPP leader, there is no doubt that he is one of the smartest politicians in the country. He is street smart, cunning, astute, and politically shrewd. He knows the local and national politics well. And he plays it expertly, better than any opponent. There is no other like him in political gamesmanship, not in his party and not in the opposition. And unlike other politicians, he is a perennial election campaigner. He lives, thinks, and acts politics – how to win election. He prepared the party for victory in 2020 and has been doing so for the election of November 2025.
The PPP leader has traits and qualities that have worked for him ever since he became Finance Minister (1994) and President (1999). Conversation with admirers and critics reveal words used to describe him: self-motivated, self-confident, courageous, success driven, proactive, inspiring, knowledgeable, strategic, determined to succeed, result-oriented, organized, resilient, insightful, hard-working, detail-oriented, assertive, passionate, success-driven, articulate, and decisive when making decisions. It is noted that Jagdeo comes across as a person who reads a lot, a voracious reader and reads up on every project to be undertaken by government even on subjects he never studied. His great work ethic is praised.
Jagdeo is a populist. Those who describe him negatively don’t understand his ability to influence people and the power he holds especially over Indians. He can do no wrong in their eyes. It is doubtful they will ever abandon him.
Jagdeo has been an effective, successful leader of his party. There is no doubt that he is the most powerful person in the party and by extension in the country. He remains the most popular political figure, though not necessarily the most liked, in the country and the diaspora. He is extremely sharp in analyzing local politics. He knows the party’s and the opposition’s bases extremely well and how to play to them for maximum electoral gains. His speeches and public addresses often resonate with his party’s masses and by extension supporters in the diaspora. There is a kind of a cult of personality of Jagdeo among party supporters at home and abroad; they love him because they say he fought for them – against electoral rigging, racism, victimization, and marginalization.
Jagdeo has a vision for country and in terms of national development and would like for policies to be carried out efficiently. He is not a “gaffe man” but an action-oriented leader, a doer who want to get things done and quickly though efficiently. He is known for his ability to make bold, decisive decisions especially on mega projects, implementing policies that prioritize economic growth. And since the Venezuela threat post 2021, he has focused on national security courting the Americans to stand with Guyana. Unlike several of his colleagues, he avoids controversies and steps in when intractable challenges arise; he clears the road. His decision is final.
Jagdeo’s leadership embodies some aspect of charisma; his supporters love him and would eat off his hands. He knows how and what to charm them to retain his influence over them. The PPP leader has excellent communication skills that have helped him connect with the party’s base; he talks the language they want to hear. He has projected a strong public image as a tough guy, an approach that has inspired trust among the party base and that has created a positive environment for policy making and implementation. His implementation of certain economic policies and national political campaigns have earned him praise among the base and even among critics for his strong, decisive leadership. He is an economic wizard — knows to spin money and to take risks for development. Those excommunicated from the PPP also admires his decisiveness in policymaking and the mega projects.
Since becoming President in 1999, Jagdeo has become the undisputed leader of the PPP and the most trustworthy among Indians. No doubt, like his predecessor founder leader of the PPP, Jagdeo has single-handedly led from the front. And since becoming President, he has helped to build up an aura around him to put the supporters of the opposition or the PNC in their place much to the delight and cheer of his base. His approval rating is above any other in the country although his likeability rating is lower than several other prominent political figures. It is advisable not to get on his wrong side. If he likes and respects you, even if you critique him, once done fairly, he is known to engage you as found in press conferences and engagements in New York.
Jagdeo has been in campaign mode over the last few years for the 2025 elections. And there is no dispute that right now his party is in the lead. It is a gargantuan task, though not impossible, to defeat him in November 2025. But an Aubrey Norton, who is struggling in his party’s base to retain their following and with nil support among Indians, won’t be able to do it.