The Alliance For Change (AFC) has intensified calls for constitutional adherence in the National Assembly, warning that the Speaker’s continued failure to convene a meeting of Opposition Members of Parliament (MPs) represents a troubling departure from democratic norms at a moment when the country can least afford institutional paralysis.
In its statement, the AFC characterised the situation as a fundamental constitutional breach rather than a minor administrative delay. The party opened with an unequivocal admonition: “The Constitution Is Not To Be Trifled With – Speaker must Convene Meeting of the Opposition Members of Parliament.” It added that “The Guyana Constitution is the highest form of law in Guyana… regarded as sacrosanct and are not to be trifled with, ignored, or whimsically reinterpreted.”
At issue is the process for selecting a Leader of the Opposition following general and regional elections—an appointment that should occur shortly after Parliament convenes. The AFC argued that the constitutional directive governing this process is plain.
As the party stated: “Article184 is pellucid in that it clearly states that the Speaker of the National Assembly shall convene a meeting of the Opposition members so that they may elect one of their own as Leader of the Opposition. The role of the Speaker is, at best, perfunctory.”
To contextualise the AFC’s concerns, Article 184(1) of the Constitution outlines the procedure as follows:
“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.”
The AFC stressed that with nearly sixty years of constitutional governance, such basic processes should be straightforward, yet Guyana is now well beyond what could be considered a reasonable timeframe. The delay is particularly consequential given the current national climate.
Guyana has gone months without full parliamentary sittings at a time when critical decisions are being made in the oil and gas sector, major public spending continues unchecked, and regional geopolitical tensions—including the emerging Venezuela–U.S. drug-trafficking confrontation—are escalating.
Without Parliament functioning, government actions move forward without oversight, national security concerns remain unexamined, and the public is deprived of the transparency essential in such a volatile period.
While many expect the We Invest in Nationhood (WIN) party—holding the largest bloc of opposition seats—to produce the likely nominee for Opposition Leader, the AFC emphasised that this is not the issue at hand. Based on the Guyana Elections Commission’s declaration, WIN holds 16 parliamentary seats, A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) has 12, and the Forward Guyana Movement (FGM) holds one, for a combined opposition total of 29 seats in the 65-seat National Assembly.
According to the AFC, the immediate concern is constitutional compliance and the restoration of democratic normalcy. As the statement emphasised- “What is, is the convening of the meeting for the members to get on with their business and allow the nation to return to some level of democratic normalcy.”
The absence of a Leader of the Opposition has wider constitutional consequences: several key appointments and oversight mechanisms require consultation with or input from the officeholder. Until the meeting is convened, these processes remain frozen.
The AFC concluded its release by reiterating its demand: “The Alliance For Change joins in the demand for the meeting of the Opposition parliamentarians to be convened forthwith.”
The Speaker now stands at the centre of a constitutional crossroads. Every day the National Assembly remains dormant deepens public unease, widens the accountability gap, and heightens the sense that critical national decisions are unfolding without the checks and balances the Constitution demands. With Guyana navigating unprecedented economic shifts and rising regional threats, the country cannot afford further drift—Parliament must act.
