In September 2023 and again in March 2025, I raised concerns about Opposition Leader Aubrey Norton’s reluctance to challenge President Irfaan Ali on the Venezuela-Guyana border controversy. Today, it appears Norton’s position has evolved, aligning more closely with the sentiments of a broad cross-section of Guyanese society.
Last Friday, Norton announced he will no longer engage with the President on the Venezuela issue while the Ali administration continues to “oppress the people.” His message was clear: future cooperation on national matters will depend on a fundamental shift away from discrimination, nepotism, and the ongoing violations of Guyana’s Constitution and democratic principles.
Norton’s stance reflects mounting frustrations from his constituents and civil society, who have long decried the government’s exclusionary politics and political decay. Despite constitutional mandates for inclusive governance, the Opposition has been routinely sidelined: excluded from national events, decision-making processes, and substantive engagement. Its supporters, and independent civil society actors, have likewise faced marginalisation.
The responsibility to protect Guyana’s territorial integrity lies with both Government and Opposition. But defending borders cannot be divorced from defending the rights and dignity of citizens. True national security includes economic justice, social equity, and democratic participation. It means ensuring that every citizen, regardless of ethnicity or political affiliation, has the opportunity to thrive and share in the nation’s wealth.
President Ali must be reminded that his role goes beyond military preparedness. He must safeguard the daily welfare of all Guyanese. Norton, as Leader of the Opposition, has a duty to hold him accountable. The rising cost of living, unaffordable housing, underfunded public services, and deepening inequality must be addressed with the same urgency as external threats. These are not peripheral concerns; they are core to national stability and resilience.
It is deeply disingenuous for the government to seek unity in times of geopolitical threat while simultaneously alienating large segments of its own population. Our soldiers, many of whom are African Guyanese, are asked to defend a country that has failed to defend their interests. They, too, are workers, citizens, and human beings deserving of respect, equitable treatment, and a fair share of the country’s resources.
Guyana’s defense readiness cannot be separated from the morale, well-being, and dignity of its people. A hungry, demoralised, and economically strained populace cannot be expected to rally enthusiastically behind nationalistic slogans. Many citizens today cannot afford basic meals or housing — a disgrace in a nation experiencing unprecedented economic growth. Meanwhile, the military remains under-equipped and underfunded.
There is growing disillusionment among ordinary Guyanese who rightly feel excluded from the country’s prosperity. They are not treated as stakeholders but more as undesirables, not entitled to equal enjoyment of the land of their birth and sacrifice.
Adding insult to injury they are now treated as expendables, expected to chant “One Guyana” in times of crisis, yet left out of the conversation in times of peace.
The stakeholders cannot simply be useful utensils of the government when it comes to risking and sacrificing their lives, livelihood and future of their families. They cannot be asked to make the ultimate sacrifice. If we are to restore a genuine sense of unity and shared purpose and national interest, the government must address the root causes of this discontent, not just its symptoms.
Only then can we expect real support and cooperation from those who feel denied, victimised and marginalised. Many people support not cooperating with the government unless there are meaningful outcomes from negotiation- legally signed, sealed, delivered and applied. We want outcomes, evidence of the deliverables which must what are:
- Strengthening Democracy and Governance
Inclusionary Democracy: Enact laws to promote inclusion, including a requirement that at least 60% of Members of Parliament approve the Appropriation Bill (Budget).
- Constitutional Commissions: Ensure the establishment of all constitutional commissions.
- Devolution of Power: Enact legislation to implement Articles 75 and 76 of the Constitution, enabling greater regional and local governance and citizen participation.
- Foreign Affairs and Border Oversight: Establish a Foreign Affairs Parliamentary Committee and a National Border Commission.
- Natural Resource Oversight: Create a bi-partisan Natural Resources Committee comprising representatives from: GTUC and FITUG (one each), Government and Opposition, Private sector, Civil society.2. Electoral Reform
Electoral Integrity: Implement a clean voters list and introduce biometric systems to enhance the credibility and transparency of elections.
3. Workers’ Rights and Social Protection
Labour Rights: Guarantee the right to:
- Join a trade union of choice,
- Engage in collective bargaining,
- Restore the check-off system,
- Resolve outstanding labour grievances.
Disciplined Services Insurance: Provide comprehensive life and health insurance for members of the Disciplined Services and their dependents, including benefits for families of those who die in service.
Unemployment Benefit: Address the NIS deficit and implement unemployment benefits by activating the NIS Unemployment Regulation.
4. Economic Equity and Reparative Justice
Affirmative Action: Enact legislation and establish a commission on equity to ensure fair access to:
- Employment (public and private
- Government contract
- Education and socio-economic resources.
Education Reparative Justice: Cancel student loan debt for University of Guyana students and refund those who have already paid.
Income Tax Reform: Eliminate income tax for workers to increase disposable income and economic participation.
Increase Minimum Wage and Old Age Pension: to reduce financial hardship, particularly among the underserved and underprivileged.
5. Oil Revenue and Social Transfers
Direct Oil Benefit Programme: Implement cash transfer programmes using oil revenues to support vulnerable populations, in line with World Bank guidance on social safety nets.
6. Healthcare and Education
Universal School Meals: Provide a balanced daily lunch to all students in public schools from nursery to secondary. Parents may opt in or out.
Healthcare Access: Build and equip main referral hospitals in all ten regions, featuring:
- Trauma centres
- Intensive care units (ICUs)
- Diagnostic facilities.
7. Infrastructure, Utilities, and Community Development
- Public Transportation: Reintroduce a national public transportation system to reduce costs, improve access, and support vulnerable populations.
- Utility Cost Reduction: Lower the cost of electricity, fuel, and transportation.
- Community Revitalisation: Offer direct and indirect cash transfers, including interest-free or low-interest soft loans, to help property owners improve and maintain their homes and communities.
National interest is not only what the government dictates it is but what serves the common good. History has shown this government does not negotiate with good intention. Thus, we want to see active planning and immediate implementation as a condition for those who the government now see as valuable to make their lives expendable. We are forewarned the government has a track record of entering into negotiations, making agreement, finding ways to undermine same and not delivering as promised.
