The Guyana Trades Union Congress (GTUC) is calling for the urgent convening of the 13th Parliament, warning that the country cannot afford further delay in addressing mounting domestic pressures and growing regional instability.
In a sharply worded statement, the federated body stressed that Guyana is facing a convergence of crises that demand immediate parliamentary oversight—ranging from the management of its oil and gas resources to the spiralling cost of living and the threat of regional fallout from the escalating United States–Venezuela conflict.
“Our nation’s urgent business cannot wait any longer,” the GTUC declared. “As Guyana faces mounting challenges—the management of our crucial oil and gas resources, a soaring cost of living, deepening poverty, and escalating tensions between the United States (U.S.) and Venezuela placing our country at risk—swift parliamentary action is imperative.”
The Union expressed alarm at increasing U.S. military presence in the Caribbean, warning that the region’s long-standing status as a Zone of Peace is now under serious threat.
“The presence of American warships in the Caribbean remains a contested issue even within U.S. leadership,” the statement noted. “We urge all Guyanese to remain vigilant to ensure our sovereignty, peace, and security are not compromised by external conflicts beyond our control.”
GTUC cautioned that any deterioration in U.S.–Venezuela relations could have direct and destabilising effects on Guyana, including surges in cross-border migration, strain on public infrastructure, and growing internal tensions.
“This conflict can cause increased forced migration from Venezuela, placing immense pressure on our porous borders and overwhelming our social infrastructure,” the statement read. “Most importantly, this conflict can fracture our fragile national unity if not addressed swiftly and transparently.”
The federated body argues that these matters demand national debate at the highest level, insisting that Parliament—“the nation’s highest decision-making forum”—must be reconvened without further delay.
Alongside its geopolitical concerns, GTUC joined the Guyana Public Service Union (GPSU) in demanding urgent economic relief in the form of a “living wage” that reflects the country’s rising cost of living.
The Union painted a stark picture of growing inequality in the midst of Guyana’s oil-driven economic boom:
“With over half of Guyanese living on less than US$5.50 per day, many cannot afford basic meals. In this oil-rich nation, many Guyanese cannot afford three nutritious meals daily. Too many children attend school hungry, families go to bed without food, and some survive on green mangoes or boiled eggs—meals borne not of choice but of necessity.”
Citing a foreign exchange rate of roughly GY$210 to US$1, the union warned that inflation continues to erode household incomes, leaving working families behind despite national growth figures.
The GTUC also reaffirmed its commitment to constitutional democracy and inclusive governance, stating that failure to convene Parliament represents a dangerous erosion of both.
“Effective governance requires the full participation of all Guyanese, united under the motto: One People, One Nation, One Destiny,” the union emphasised. “This shared responsibility must be embraced without delay.”
In reiterating its call, GTUC made clear that the issue is not one of political expediency, but of national survival.
“The immediate convening of the 13th Parliament is not only necessary—it is essential to safeguard our nation’s future.”
While the elections were held on September 1 and the Constitution of Guyana requires that Parliament be convened no later than November 2, the GTUC argues that the magnitude of the crises currently facing the nation demands immediate national attention. Parliament was previously dissolved on July 3, 2025, by President Irfaan Ali.
The delayed opening of the 13th Parliament, the country’s highest decision-making forum, effectively denies the people, through their elected representatives, the opportunity to address these urgent matters in a manner consistent with the inclusionary mandate of Guyana’s political system.
With political accountability stalled and national challenges intensifying, the GTUC’s call underscores a broader public sentiment: Guyana’s institutions must respond with urgency, or risk deepening the very crises they are meant to manage.
