Media houses and pollsters usually measure performance through approval and job performance ratings. The public usually assess or judge performance giving their grade of Ministers as well as the President, VP, and PM. The public know who is a failure. The President wins re-election and should be allowed to freely choose his cabinet without justifiable objections or initial rejection as leading American conservative columnist George Will penned about American Presidential appointees. The same should hold for Guyana or any country.
It is not normal to critique the government without it having some period of time to assess appointees’ performance . It is usually a tradition over the last century or so for governments (Chief Executives) to be given a hundred days honeymoon period before critics, naysayers, detractors start levying criticisms on or evaluating performance. Although President Ali has begun his second term, he should be given a honeymoon period of 100 days before an objective evaluation of his appointees and theirs and his performance as well as that of the overall government.
Approval ratings can be conducted continuously from the commencement of his presidency as is done in USA. And based on my engagements with the public, the President has started out well with very high job performance similar to 2020. Only a small amount (of about a hundred engaged) criticized some appointees of the new cabinet. Even those who did not vote for the President has given a nod to his new administration. There were some criticisms on a few appointees. Some WINites and PNCites have preferred not to express a comment on the President’s new administration.
The public largely feels that President Irfaan, his VP, and the PPP administration have governed for all regardless of party affiliation as they seek to build upon the first term and use the new mandate to furthering tangible quality of life improvements.
The government’s objective has been to advance socio-economic development. The President and government deserve some time to realize his and the PPP’s manifesto goals. The 100th day is a benchmark that’s widely considered the first impression of a new administration anywhere. And it is traditional for governments to be assessed or evaluated after 100 days in office for early accomplishments, trends, and missteps. The 100 days foreshadows achievements and priorities of the new government. It is also a check on whether government is on course to realize campaign promises and address those requiring course correction
It is recalled that Irfaan first took the reins of government in August 2020 at a time when the country faced two serious crises – the Covid 19 and trust and confidence in government with people becoming cynical about governance that followed the episode to rig the results of the election in plain sight. The government handled Covid well. There is no doubt that the country was better off between 2020 and 2025 than the preceding five years; rigging has been addressed legally and policy wise.
In the 2025 election, the President, VP, and others were more inspiring on the platform than the opposition, winning the confidence of the voters to give them another term in office to complete unfinished business and address emerging problems. Those who went to the poll, albeit 43% did not vote, placed greater trust and confidence in PPP than in the opposition.
President Irfaan, Jagdeo and the PPP have received a mandate from the voters to proceed with their plan as the electorate rejected the divided opposition. The president made several commitments in his inauguration speech including eliminating unnecessary bureaucracy, clamping down on waste, providing efficient delivery of government services, creating a more educated and productive workforce, and tackling high cost of living, crime, and corruption, promising to establish an anti-corruption body. He commits to furthering inclusivity and equity, bolstering education and healthcare, strengthening agriculture, providing more low-cost housing, improving infrastructure, encouraging private investments that create jobs and generate prosperity, and promoting transparency and accountability.
Dr Ali started out with some very praiseworthy policies including a plan to clean up Georgetown to make it a safe and first world capital. He also stated that there will be on-line application for passports with regional offices for pick up. In order to eviscerate any questions about governance issues, the public feels that the President and VP must show early progress in combating crime and lowering cost of living and deliver services efficiently. People will look to new Minister Zulfikar Ally to address the delivery of services across all ministries efficiently – how will that be done since he has his own separate Ministry. The President also plans to strengthen relations with Washington and the diaspora. He welcomes the American presence in Guyana extended waters to combat narco-trafficking. The commitment to a new partnership with USA has won widespread public approval in Guyana and the diaspora.
President Ali has an excellent start of his new term. Lacking a matrix or benchmark, the team must be given time to perform. The President has offered some very good policy proposals. Giving the President a fair amount of time will allow for an objective assessment on the appointees and implementation of proposals to validate the sincerity with which commitments were (are) made and whether he has chosen the right ministers.
