Aubrey Norton Announced as Presidential Candidate for Guyana Opposition

Guyana's opposition coalition, APNU, has announced Aubrey Norton as its presidential candidate for the September 1 election. Norton promises to use oil production revenue to deliver higher wages, social programs, and education improvements. His platform includes a stipend for students, direct cash transfers, a 35% pay raise for public employees, and the construction of thousands of houses. Exxon Mobil's oil discovery in 2015 has transformed Guyana's economy, but has also left the nation's outlook tied to the oil market.

In a significant political development, Guyana's opposition coalition, A Partnership for National Unity (APNU), has announced Aubrey Norton as its presidential candidate for the September 1 election. Norton, a veteran politician, has promised to use the growing oil production revenue to deliver higher wages, social programs, and education improvements. His platform includes a stipend for students, direct cash transfers, a 35% pay raise for public employees, and the construction of thousands of houses under a rent-to-own scheme for low-income workers ineligible for mortgages [2].

The announcement comes amidst Guyana's economic transformation, driven by Exxon Mobil's oil discovery in 2015. This discovery has filled the government's coffers with billions of dollars from crude exports, transforming the nation's economic fortunes. However, it has also left the country's outlook tied to the whims of the global oil market [4].

Norton's running mate, vice-presidential candidate Ganesh Mahipaul, has stated that the APNU's platform can be financed by oil revenues alone, promising no new levies would be required to fulfill these promises [2]. The coalition aims to use the oil revenues to improve the quality of education at the publicly-owned University of Guyana and reduce the cost of living by increasing domestic food production. Additionally, the APNU plans to professionalize the Guyana Police Force, which has been criticized for its poor conduct and politicized decisions [2].

The opposition coalition's campaign launch on Sunday night in Georgetown showcased new additions to the party, including Dr. Paul Williams, Attorneys Dr. Dexter Todd and Ronald Daniels, Gospel singer Saiku Andrews, and youth leader Eden Corbin [1]. Norton, known for his combative style, used the event to lambast the current government's education initiatives and the GOAL scholarship program, while also acknowledging the past mistakes of the coalition government [1].

The upcoming election is set to be a two-way battle between the APNU and the incumbent People’s Progressive Party. However, a third party led by a US-sanctioned Guyanese businessman, Azruddin Mohamed, has been attracting support this year [3]. The deadline for nominations is July 14.

References:
[1] https://guyanachronicle.com/2025/07/07/norton-admits-past-mistakes-of-coalition-govt-but-offers-no-apology/
[2] https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2025-07-07/guyana-opposition-taps-norton-to-vie-for-top-job-amid-oil-boom
[3] https://www.facebook.com/groups/249689938471275/posts/10045017748938396/
[4] https://seekingalpha.com/article/4799263-exxon-mobil-guyana-production-about-to-grow-roughly-50-percent