Speaker flies out to India

Jan 16, 2026 News

---

…as calls grow for election of opposition leader

(Kaieteur News) – Amid mounting calls for Parliament to be convened for the election of the Leader of the Opposition, Speaker of the National Assembly Manzoor Nadir has once again departed the country- this time to India.

Nadir is currently in India attending the Conference of Speakers and Presiding Officers of the Commonwealth (CSPOC). So far during his trip, Speaker Nadir engaged with several senior parliamentary officials, including Richard Balfe, a member of the United Kingdom House of Lords; Lindsay Hoyle, Speaker of the UK House of Commons; and Om Birla, Speaker of India’s Lok Sabha.

Nadir’s participation in the CSPOC also comes amid calls from Western diplomats for him to convene a meeting of the opposition parliamentarians to facilitate the election of a Leader of the Opposition. The 13th Parliament was convened on November 3, 2025, when government and opposition Members of Parliament (MPs) were sworn in. However, since then, no date has been announced for a sitting to elect the opposition leader. We Invest in Nationhood (WIN), led by Azruddin Mohamed, holds the majority of opposition seats in the National Assembly with 16 MPs. A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) holds 12 seats, while the Forward Guyana Movement (FGM) has one seat.

When questioned late last year, President Irfaan Ali had revealed that Nadir is out of the country at that time, noting, “I’m sure that the speaker and the National Assembly, would convene a meeting at the appropriate time and have that process completed.”

Recently, diplomatic representatives from the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada and the European Union all weighed in on the issue. In a statement on Thursday, WIN acknowledged the call this time by the French Ambassador to Guyana, Olivier Plançon, urging that Guyana’s Parliament be allowed to function as constitutionally intended, including the appointment of a Leader of the Opposition and the convening of parliamentary sittings without further delay. In his comments on the ongoing parliamentary impasse, Ambassador Plançon told Stabroek News, “I am confident that Guyana’s democratic traditions and institutions will address these issues and ensure that Parliament can carry out its important mission on behalf of the people of Guyana.”

He further emphasised the constitutional nature of the matter, noting, “I would also say that those are matters for Guyana’s constitutional actors to resolve in accordance with the law.”

WIN noted that Ambassador Plançon’s remarks are consistent with a broader and sustained position expressed by Guyana’s key international democratic partners, collectively known as the ABCEU, who have repeatedly underscored the importance of Parliament, constitutional order, and democratic accountability.

The party also noted that the continued absence of a functioning Parliament undermines transparency, weakens democratic institutions, and denies the people of Guyana their right to representation and oversight. United States Ambassador to Guyana, Nicole Theriot, for her part had said, “We all recognise the importance of a functioning opposition as part of any legislative body. I join my EU and British colleagues in encouraging the convening of Parliament and the election of the Leader of the Opposition as soon as possible so all those elected by the people of Guyana can begin performing their constitutionally designated duties. An active Parliament is important for Guyana’s continued growth and development which will benefit all the people of Guyana.”

British High Commissioner Jane Miller similarly emphasised that both government and opposition parliamentarians occupy a “critical role” in the legislative process, and called for the election of a leader of the opposition to take place “without delay.”

Canadian High Commissioner to Guyana, Sébastien Sigouin, also weighed in, calling for the protection and strengthening of democratic principles, good governance and the rule of law. He stated: “The appointment of the Leader of the Opposition and the scheduling of parliamentary sittings are matters for Guyana’s constitutional actors to resolve in accordance with the law. I am confident that Guyana’s democratic traditions and institutions will address these issues and ensure that Parliament can carry out its important work on behalf of the people of Guyana.”

European Union Ambassador to Guyana, Luca Pierantoni, said he would be “rather surprised” if parliament does not resume sitting within the next couple of weeks, expressing confidence that the long-outstanding issue of appointing a leader of the opposition would be resolved once parliamentary business recommences.

---

• India, Manzoor Nadir, Opposition Leader, Speaker

---