As Venezuela prepares to hold illegal elections in the disputed Essequibo Region on May 25, defying an explicit directive by the International Court of Justice (ICJ), General Secretary of the Guyana Trades Union Congress (GTUC) Lincoln Lewis has issued a forceful call for genuine national unity grounded in democratic reform and economic justice.
In his Eye on Guyana column last Sunday, Lewis warned that the Guyanese government cannot credibly call for national solidarity while continuing to marginalise large segments of its own population. His critique follows reports of several recent attacks by Venezuelans on Guyana Defence Force (GDF) soldiers stationed in the Cuyuni border areas, heightening tensions and national concern.
The responsibility to defend Guyana’s territorial integrity is shared by all, Lewis wrote. “But defending borders cannot be divorced from defending the rights and dignity of citizens.”
The ICJ, in a ruling on 1st May 2025 ordered that “Venezuela shall refrain from conducting elections, or preparing to conduct elections, in the territory in dispute, which the Co-operative Republic of Guyana currently administers and over which it exercises control.” Caracas has openly flouted that order, moving forward with a vote that Guyanese officials and international observers have widely condemned as provocative and illegitimate.
In face of this looming threat, Lewis argued that Guyana’s internal fractures are as dangerous as external aggression. He pointed to rising inequality, ethnic discrimination, and the systematic exclusion of opposition voices and civil society actors from national decision-making.
The column also referenced Opposition Leader Aubrey Norton’s recent announcement that he will suspend cooperation with President Irfaan Ali’s administration on national matters, including the Venezuela-Guyana controversy, until the government demonstrates a real commitment to inclusion and democratic reform.
Lewis called on the Opposition to hold the government accountable and demand meaningful reforms as a condition for ensuring all Guyanese are treated fairly—and in recognition of their vital role in protecting, developing, benefiting from, and defending the nation.
“National interest is not just what the government says it is. It must reflect the needs and rights of all Guyanese,” Lewis wrote. Many citizens feel like expendables, ignored in times of peace, yet suddenly valued in times of crisis, Lewis asserted. The veteran trade unionist argued that such treatment is not demonstration of unity but rather, exploitation.
Lewis pointed out that many called upon to defend Guyana, including GDF soldiers, come from communities most affected by inequality and neglect. “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.”
To restore trust and build meaningful national cohesion, Lewis called for immediate and measurable reforms, including:
· Bipartisan governance, requiring cross-party approval for the national budget and reactivation of all constitutional commissions;
· Electoral reforms, including a clean voters list and biometric voting systems;
· Labour protections, such as restoring the check-off system, guaranteeing the right to unionise, and resolving outstanding industrial disputes;
· Expanded social protection, including unemployment benefits and insurance for Disciplined Services members;
· Economic justice, such as affirmative action legislation, student debt cancellation, and increased minimum wages and pensions;
· Equitable oil revenue sharing, through direct and indirect cash transfers to vulnerable families;
· Public service investments, including school meal programmes and trauma care hospitals in every region.
Political analysts suggest that with elections approaching in Venezuela and tensions flaring on the border, the administration will face growing domestic pressure to match its military readiness with social and constitutional accountability.
And as Lewis noted: “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.”
