Restore parliamentary integrity, elect the Leader of the Opposition without delay

Nov 26, 2025 Letters

Dear Editor,

As a citizen who cares deeply about the stability of our democracy and the dignity of our parliamentary traditions, I feel compelled to express my concern about the troubling and unprecedented situation unfolding in our country. Guyana has always prided itself on being a nation where, regardless of our political differences, the processes that guide our democracy remain sacred. Today, however, that trust is being tested.

To appreciate the present moment, it is useful to reflect on where we have come from. In 2011, our Parliament welcomed two opposition parties, APNU and the AFC. Though they differed in size and mandate, the system operated smoothly. APNU secured 26 seats, the AFC won 7, and immediately, without confusion or hesitation, the Leader of the Opposition was chosen from the party that held the majority of opposition seats. It was a simple, transparent, and respectful acknowledgment of the people’s will.

Now, in 2025, the situation is even clearer. Three opposition parties sit in Parliament, yet one party WIN, holds a decisive lead with 16 seats, compared to APNU’s 12 and the FGM’s single seat. By every measure of fairness and democratic tradition, the party with the strongest support among opposition voters should once again produce the Leader of the Opposition.

And yet, weeks after the opening of the 13th Parliament, we remain without one.

What has changed? Not the Constitution, which still calls for the Leader of the Opposition to be elected by non-government members. Not the principle that the largest opposition party carries the broadest mandate from the electorate. What has changed is the willingness of our parliamentary system to act with clarity and urgency.

Instead of following precedent, we now see delays, shifting explanations, and procedural silence. The first sitting came and went without the election being placed on the Order Paper. No meeting of non-government MPs has been convened to fulfill a constitutional duty that should be routine. Meanwhile, thousands of Guyanese who voted for the opposition are left without their rightful representative voice.

This is not a matter of politics, it is a matter of respect: respect for the people, respect for the Constitution, and respect for the institution of Parliament itself. When those elected to serve us hesitate to carry out their obligations, the entire nation feels the consequences. A Parliament without a Leader of the Opposition is unbalanced. It cannot fully scrutinise government actions, nor can it offer the structured representation that citizens deserve.

Guyana is better than this. We have weathered political storms before. We have found unity where it seemed impossible. And we have always held onto the belief that our democratic processes, though imperfect — must never be compromised.

Therefore, I respectfully call on the relevant parliamentary authorities to act without further delay. The people have spoken. The mandate is clear. And the Constitution provides the path forward. Our country cannot afford prolonged uncertainty, nor can we allow hesitation to shape our democratic future.

Let us return to the principles that once guided us with dignity and fairness. The Leader of the Opposition must be elected and sworn in, not for the sake of any one party, but for the sake of Guyana.

Sincerely,
Lorenzo Joseph
United Workers Party (UWP)
Activist

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