Speaker Yet to Respond to WIN Letter on Opposition Leader Election

We Invest in Nationhood (WIN) says it is still awaiting a response from the Speaker of the National Assembly, Manzoor Nadir, regarding when the election for the Leader of the Opposition will be held, following the swearing-in of party leader Azruddin Mohamed as a Member of Parliament (MP) on Monday, November 3.

WIN confirmed that its leader wrote to the Speaker seeking clarity on the process but, as of the time of writing, “the Speaker has not yet responded.”

Speaking with reporters earlier this week, Mohamed stated confidently, “The Leader of the Opposition, of course, is me. We’re the main opposition party—no questions about that, so we’re waiting for the Speaker to convene the meeting so that the other parliamentarians will elect me, of course.” Win has secured 16 seats, making it the main Opposition. 

Under Article 184(1) of the Constitution of Guyana,

“The Leader of the Opposition shall be elected by and from among the non-governmental members of the National Assembly at a meeting held under the chairmanship of the Speaker of the National Assembly, who shall not have the right to vote.”

Former parliamentarian and government minister Annette Ferguson clarified that the election of the Leader of the Opposition is not an agenda item on the National Assembly’s Order Paper but a separate process chaired by the Speaker. She explained that the procedure requires all non-governmental MPs to assemble at a venue designated by the Speaker to nominate and elect a Leader by show of hands.

The former minister cautioned that prolonged delay in filling the position could trigger a constitutional crisis, as the Leader of the Opposition is a key constitutional office-holder required to be consulted by the President on major appointments — including the Police Commissioner, Chancellor and Chief Justice, and the Judicial Service Commission.

Dr. Terrence Campbell, lead parliamentarian for the A Partnership for National Unity (APNU), which holds 12 of the 29 opposition seats, also expressed hope that this “constitutionally important position” will be filled at the earliest opportunity.

The Government has not yet announced the date for the next sitting of the National Assembly, leaving uncertainty about when the election process will be initiated.