A lesson in public accountability

Oct 05, 2026 Letters

Dear Editor,

I write to commend Dr. Andre Lewis, the WIN Parliamentarian, for his October 2, 2026 decision to resign from the National Assembly amid the serious allegations currently under investigation by the Guyana Police Force. His action, while personally difficult, demonstrates a standard of public accountability that deserves recognition.

Dr. Lewis was arrested on Wednesday evening in connection with allegations of a sexual nature involving an individual who was a minor at the time. He has not been charged, and no finding of guilt has been made. Crucially, in his resignation letter dated October 2, 2026, he explicitly stated that his decision should not be construed as an admission of wrongdoing or a determination of guilt. He affirmed his commitment to due process and to allowing the authorities to conduct their investigations unimpeded.

Editor, this distinction is vital. Dr. Lewis did not resign because he has been proven guilty. He resigned because he understood a fundamental principle of public service: when one draws a salary from the public purse, the public is entitled to undivided trust and confidence in the discharge of those duties. The moment that trust is clouded by a serious criminal investigation, the honourable course—regardless of personal innocence—is to step aside so that the investigation can proceed without the weight of public office pressing upon it.

By resigning under Article 156(1)(a) of the Constitution, Dr. Lewis has removed any perception that his parliamentary position might shield him from scrutiny or that public resources are being used to sustain him while serious allegations remain unresolved. He has, in effect, prioritised the integrity of the institution over his own tenure within it.

Editor, this should serve as a reminder to every politician and public servant who is compensated from the public treasury. Public office is a trust, not a shield. When allegations of a grave nature arise and a formal investigation is underway, the continuation of a publicly funded role can erode institutional credibility, even before any verdict is rendered. The appropriate response is not to cling to office while litigation drags on, but to voluntarily step aside—not as an admission of guilt, but as an acknowledgment that the office belongs to the people, not the officeholder. WIN, Guyana’s pre- eminent Political Opposition Party is a hierophant, invariably advocating equity, equanimity and equality in even the most diverse situations. Dr. Lewis’ adherence to WIN’s unswerving philosophy is a testament to his discipline and adherence thereof.

Editor, let me be pellucid. Dr. Lewis’s resignation is not a verdict on his innocence or guilt. It is a statement about his understanding of what public service demands. That understanding, regrettably, is not universal. Too often, officials facing serious scrutiny remain entrenched, allowing their personal legal battles to become the public’s burden. Dr. Lewis has chosen a different path.

Whatever the outcome of the police investigation, his decision to resign has set a standard. It is a standard that all who draw a salary from the public purse would do well to observe.

Yours sincerely,

Jonathan Subrian Esq.

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Andre Lewis, Jonathan Subrian, Letters, public accountability, WIN Parliamentarian

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