Guyana Trades Union Congress (GTUC) General Secretary, Lincoln Lewis, has issued a sharp condemnation of the Irfaan Ali administration, accusing it of turning a critical moment of national importance into a partisan spectacle. His comments follow last Friday’s passage of a parliamentary motion on Venezuela’s claim to Essequibo—passed without the support or participation of the Opposition.
Lewis, in a critical op-ed, said the government’s actions amounted to “a blatant act of political brinkmanship,” accusing it of deliberately sidelining the Opposition in what should have been a united front against external aggression.
“The government can take no credit for passing the motion without the Opposition,” Lewis wrote. “They created the environment of disunity by marginalising the Opposition, then now seeking to capitalise on it.” He warned that such actions “do not serve the national interest” and instead “demonstrated deepening dictatorial tendencies.”
Unlike the bipartisan motion passed in November 2023, which condemned Venezuela’s aggression and saw collaboration across the aisle, the May 2025 motion was driven solely by the government. Lewis called this a missed opportunity for national solidarity, especially in the face of Venezuela’s escalated threats over the oil-rich Essequibo region.
According to Lewis, the government’s refusal to engage the Opposition reflects a broader pattern of exclusion enabled by a slim one-seat parliamentary majority. “This is not inclusive democracy, it’s political domination,” he warned, emphasizing that half the electorate voted for the Opposition and deserved representation in shaping national responses.
Lewis argued that President Irfaan Ali should have worked directly with Opposition Leader Aubrey Norton to craft a unified strategy—both in substance and in symbolism. He suggested that coordinated actions like jointly entering Parliament under the national flag and singing patriotic songs would have sent a powerful message to Venezuela and the international community.
Instead, said Lewis, the administration “squandered the moment” and “came out of Parliament more disunited than they went in.”
He was also keen to point out that the Opposition did not reject the motion itself, but rather “rejected being sidelined in a process they helped build just months ago.” Referring to the bipartisan effort behind the November 2023 motion, Lewis said the government had “cast aside the opportunity to build on this relationship,” one that could have advanced Article 13 of the Constitution, which speaks to “forging an inclusionary democracy.”
Lewis went further, urging Guyanese citizens to recognise the danger of a government ruling with a narrow mandate and to demand accountability. “Guyanese must demand the Government treat the Opposition with respect. After all, it is a one-seat difference, not forgetting, resulting from questionable results,” he wrote.
His commentary comes amid rising national concern over governance, equity, and growing allegations of discrimination and fiscal irresponsibility. Critics say the government is entrenching a style of rule that marginalizes dissent and erodes democratic norms.
“Friday was an unnecessary, unacceptable and untimely parliamentary show of political brinkmanship, on the eve of independence, that smacks at the people’s aspiration to forge a Guyana that honours its motto: ‘One People One Nation One Destiny,’” Lewis concluded.
