A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) launched its 2025 general and regional elections campaign on Sunday at the Square of the Revolution, emphasizing a people-centred policy agenda aimed at tackling poverty and boosting quality of life across Guyana.
Taking aim at what it described as the current government’s misuse of public resources, the coalition renewed calls to root out corruption and ensure that the country’s oil wealth translates into tangible benefits for ordinary citizens.
Among the party’s flagship proposals are a 35 percent increase in public servant salaries, an old-age pension of $100,000, an annual child cash grant of $120,000, stipends for students, and an increase in the tax threshold to $400,000.
Presidential candidate Aubrey Norton outlined several initiatives targeting vulnerable populations, including a pledge to address homelessness and expand opportunities for social and economic mobility. He said an APNU administration would promote the cultural and creative industries, including a review of intellectual property legislation to ensure creators benefit from their work.
Norton also spoke of developing Guyana’s cultural identity by investing in indigenous music and cultivating a distinct national sound. On the sporting front, he pledged that athletes would receive salaries to pursue their disciplines, along with medical insurance to protect their careers and direct government sponsorship for international competition—eliminating the need for athletes to seek public donations.
He criticized the current administration’s focus on large-scale infrastructure projects, stating that while such development is necessary, it should not overshadow the everyday needs of citizens.
“I am saying to you that under our people-centred development strategy, you the people will be the main focus. This is a time when we have to ensure that the resources of this country meet the people of Guyana,” Norton said.
“We are saying to you, the most important resource in this country is the human resource. We are saying we will pay for that resource well. We want to retain our nurses; we want to retain our teachers, so we will pay them well. And we are saying we will ensure we have a strong technical and vocational program so that our youths on the road can get training.”
Norton warned that continued exploitation of Guyana’s resources without direct benefit to the people is unacceptable, asserting that the country is in a critical struggle to realign wealth distribution.
Prime Ministerial candidate Juretha Fernandes echoed his sentiments, promising improved access to housing, education, health care, and economic opportunities. She also advocated for strengthening support for Indigenous communities and expanding the child cash grant program.
Fernandes acknowledged concerns about systemic obstacles that, in her view, hinder citizens from fully benefiting from state services. She praised the resilience of public servants while pointing to issues of corruption and inefficiency.
“We acknowledge the public servants and admire and commend the public servants that have been fighting to keep our country and public service above par. We acknowledge the constraints that they have when they work for ministers that want them to be corrupt, that instruct them to be corrupt…We acknowledge the contractors out there that had to buy a contract here and there. We are telling you that we will make your lives better and we will make sure that never again you have to do that. We will make sure that when you get a small contract, it’s a contract that you will benefit from and you don’t have to pay for it.We will make sure that your work and the process will be done efficiently because there will be such transparency, and your small business will grow.”
Sunday’s campaign launch also featured several APNU figures and alliance members, including Dr. David Hinds of the Working People’s Alliance, National Front Alliance leader Cordell Joseph, and APNU members Ganesh Mahipaul and Christopher Jones. New additions to the party include gospel singer Saiku Andrews, youth group leader Eden Corbin, and attorney Ronald Daniels.
