The Constitution Demands It: Elect the Opposition Leader Without Delay!

Dec 31, 2025 Letters

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Dear Editor,

As Guyana prepares to enter a new year, our nation remains without one of its most essential constitutional offices: the Leader of the Opposition. It has now been almost two months since Members of Parliament were sworn in on November 3, 2025, yet the Speaker of the National Assembly, Mr. Manzoor Nadir – being paid by taxpayers, not by the PPP/C – has failed spectacularly at the one constitutional duty only he can perform: convening the meeting to elect the Opposition Leader. This is unprecedented, and it is deeply troubling.

Article 184(1) of the Constitution is unambiguous: “The Leader of the Opposition shall be elected by the non-governmental members of the National Assembly at a meeting held under the chairmanship of the Speaker.” This is not a suggestion. It is not optional. It is a constitutional command. And Article 8 reminds us that “the Constitution is the supreme law of Guyana.”

While the Constitution does not specify a timeframe for this election, history provides clear guidance. In 2015, for example, the Opposition Leader – now Vice President – was elected on the very same day that opposition MPs were sworn in. That moment demonstrated the independence, integrity, and democratic posture of the then Speaker, in stark contrast to the troubling inaction of the current Speaker. Clearly, historical guidelines and traditions escape the PPP/C, as evidenced by the selection of the Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly.

Now, Guyana is experiencing the longest delay in its history, despite every opposition party publicly indicating their readiness to participate. This delay is not administrative. It is political. And it is dangerous. It places the interests and emotions of a single party, the PPP/C, above the well-being of the nation, above transparency, above constitutional order, and above the very principles of democracy.

Instead of “giving permission” to the Speaker to call the meeting to elect the Opposition Leader, the nation witnessed President Irfaan Ali deliver a two‑hour speech on the lawns of the Arthur Chung Conference Centre – a national address that should have been delivered in the parliamentary chamber before all elected representatives, but was instead staged outside, as though Parliament is an optional accessory. The symbolism is unmistakable: avoid the House, avoid the Opposition, avoid accountability.

This is not normal. This is not democratic. This is not accountable governance. It is the PPP/C displaying, without apology, the hallmarks of a dictatorship.

The refusal to call the meeting to elect the Opposition Leader has stalled key constitutional bodies. Without a Leader of the Opposition, there can be no meaningful consultation on appointments to the Judicial Service Commission, the Police Service Commission, the Public Service Commission, and other oversight mechanisms. The absence of these checks and balances weakens the very fabric of our parliamentary democracy.

Guyanese – taxpayers, voters, citizens – are now openly questioning how democratic our country truly is. How can the government speak of “One Guyana” when it openly refuses to honour the constitutional rights of nearly 110,000 Guyanese who voted for the We Invest in Nationhood party? How can we claim unity when the Speaker continues to ignore his constitutional duty and blatantly shows favour to the installed government?

The optics are clear: a government avoiding scrutiny. A Speaker shielding the executive. A Parliament deliberately stalled. A nation left without accountability.

The PPP/C administration appears fearful of the strong, diverse opposition now seated in the National Assembly – fearful of what parliamentary committees may uncover once properly constituted, fearful of what transparency may reveal, fearful of a functioning democracy.

But fear is no justification for violating the Constitution.

Each day that passes without an Opposition Leader erodes public trust and deepens the perception that Guyana is drifting toward authoritarianism. The Constitution does not permit indefinite delay. It does not allow political manoeuvring. It does not bend to the convenience of any government.

The Speaker must act, not next month, not next week, but now. I call on President Irfaan Ali to uphold democratic principles and ensure that the Speaker convenes the meeting to elect the Opposition Leader. Delaying this process until it becomes absolutely unavoidable – such as when the national budget is to be presented and debated – exposes a troubling weakness in the government’s approach. It suggests a governance style driven more by emotion and partisanship rather than by professionalism, constitutional responsibility, or democratic norms.

I call on our regional and international partners – including CARICOM, the Commonwealth Secretariat, and the OAS – to reaffirm the importance of timely constitutional processes and the proper functioning of Parliament. I urge our local civil society bodies, such as the Bar Association, the Private Sector Commission, and religious organisations, to lend their voices in defence of democratic norms. Guyana’s stability depends on institutions working as they should, not at the convenience of any government.

Guyana stands at a crossroads. History will judge whether we defended our democracy or allowed it to be quietly undermined. The people deserve better. The Constitution demands better. And the taxpayer funded Speaker must fulfil his duty without further delay.

Yours sincerely,
Nandranie Singh, MP

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• Constitution, Letters, Manzoor Nadir, Nandranie Singh, Opposition Leader

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