The political climate in Guyana is heating up as the country heads into general elections on September 1. 

Speaking on Taking Stock with Kalilah Reynolds, Guyanese Business Analyst Youni Abdul says the campaigns are in full swing, with six parties on the ballot. The big issues centre around business stability, security, oil wealth, and how best to use it for the people.

According to  Abdul, the ruling People’s Progressive Party (PPP), led by President Irfaan Ali, is emphasising infrastructure. Their plan includes new highways, ports, bridges, and housing developments. They argue that this will open up land, attract investment, and create jobs.

He said there has been some pushback on this, with critics saying, “people can’t eat roads,” pointing to a need for more direct support to citizens. Other parties are instead promising larger cash grants from oil revenues, some even suggesting up to US$2,000 per person.

Oil and gas remain the biggest factor in this election. 

Guyana is now one of the fastest-growing oil producers in the world, and many parties have floated ideas about renegotiating contracts. But analysts expect little change, with the industry likely to remain stable no matter who wins. For businesses, continuity is key. Guyanese 

“Businesses thrive on predictability and continuity. Whichever party is in power, investors will be watching closely to see what regimes will be fixed, if there are improvements, or if there’s anything that will drastically change,” Abdul said.

Security is another concern. Earlier this year, unrest following the death of a young girl raised alarms about the possibility of election violence. 

He noted that Guyana has a long history of post-election conflict, and while the government has taken steps to improve safety, many citizens remain cautious. 

Electoral reforms now require results from polling stations to be posted online within three hours, and international observers are already on the ground to help ensure a smoother process than in 2020, when results took more than five months to finalise.