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Todd slams Speaker over diplomat rebuke
…warns democracy at risk
(Kaieteur News) – A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) Member of Parliament Dexter Todd has sharply criticised Speaker of the National Assembly Manzoor Nadir for publicly attacking United States and Canadian diplomats who questioned his failure to convene a meeting to elect a Leader of the Opposition.
Amid stepped-up calls for him to convene a meeting of non-government MPs to elect an opposition leader, Nadir on Tuesday evening, during a live broadcast, broke his silence and announced that the meeting will be held on Monday – the same day the Government of Guyana is expected to present Budget 2026.
A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) Member of Parliament, Dexter Todd
In his address, Nadir took aim at We Invest in Nationhood (WIN) leader and MP Azruddin Mohamed, stating that the likelihood of Mohamed becoming Leader of the Opposition could result in a stain on Guyana’s Parliament. He also responded to comments made by U.S. Ambassador Nicole Theriot and Canadian High Commissioner Sébastien Sigouin, who were among several diplomats commenting on the issue. “To the US Ambassador to Guyana I ask, who is the leader of the opposition in your country. Does the absence of an opposition leader interfere with your country democratic process?”
Speaker of the National Assembly, Manzoor Nadir
Canadian High Commissioner, Sébastien Sigouin
He also addressed the Canadian High Commissioner, stating, “To my dear friend Sébastien the Canadian High Commissioner. Your great democracy took six months to produce a budget last year and your country has the unique distinction of having a person who is never elected parliament serve as a prime minister. The person imposed on the citizens of Canada by the former Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.”
U.S. Ambassador, Nicole Theriot
But in a strong reprimand, Todd said: “The speaker is a human being; he is entitled to his personal views. He may even have a personal dislike for whoever may eventually sit in that chair. However, the moment he speaks in his official capacity, his personal feelings must be subservient to the Rule of Law,” Todd said in a statement on Wednesday. He also stated that the Speaker took the extraordinary step of attacking diplomats during his address.
Todd said governance is not a solo performance but a symphony of institutions operating in harmony under the rule of law, adding that when that harmony is disrupted by those sworn to protect it, there is a duty to speak out. He stressed that the Office of the Leader of the Opposition is a constitutional office, not a political courtesy, and that leaving the position vacant leaves Guyana’s democracy incomplete. “When the international community calls for this vacancy to be filled, they are not taking sides, they are standing on the side of the Supremacy of the Constitution, which is the highest law of our land,” Todd said.
“These diplomats were not expressing ‘personal opinions’ or interfering in our internal affairs. They were doing something far more fundamental: they were advocating for the integrity of the Guyanese Constitution. By calling for the appointment of a Leader of the Opposition, these representatives were supporting the completion of our governmental architecture. A government does not function solely on the will of a President. Our system is designed to be a complete structure,” he stated. Todd further said it is deeply concerning that the Speaker appears comfortable presiding over what he described as an undemocratic and unconstitutional situation, reminding that the Speaker’s role is to uphold the rules of the House, not obstruct them. Looking ahead, Todd said Guyana is entering “interesting times” in Parliament. “When the guardrails of our democracy start to lean, it is up to us the elected members and the citizens to straighten them. We must return to a place where respect for our Constitution outweighs personal political agendas. Our international partners expect it, but more importantly, the Guyanese people deserve it,” he added.
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