Tensions have surfaced between A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) and We Invest in Nationhood (WIN) over delays in scheduling a planned meeting, raising questions about coordination among opposition parties in the National Assembly. APNU Parliamentary Whip Ganesh Mahipaul accused WIN of failing to follow through with arranging a formal meeting, despite earlier discussions. “WIN undertook to propose a date, time, and venue for a meeting. Months have since passed, and no such meeting has materialized,” Mahipaul said on Tuesday.
According to Mahipaul, both sides had initially agreed on a proposed agenda, covering the composition of parliamentary committees, the chairmanship of the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) and sectoral committees, the appointment of shadow ministers, and other parliamentary business. However, he said the talks stalled after APNU Parliamentary Leader Dr Terrence Campbell had an out-of-town appointment, and subsequent efforts to reconnect were unsuccessful.
“The only thing Azruddin seems to be interested in right now is to protect himself from his legal jeopardy and selectively exposing some of the wrongdoings of the PPP/C that he was part and parcel of, and facilitated when the friendship was strong. In the circumstance, he is best advised to continue to sing like a canary but also realise that being an MP requires lots more,” Mahipaul added.
Despite the criticism, Mahipaul left the door open for future engagement, noting that WIN remains the largest opposition party with 16 seats, compared to APNU’s 12 and the Forward Guyana Movement’s one. He also clarified that APNU had proceeded with naming its own shadow ministers and will continue to discharge its constitutional duties.
“Our Members of Parliament will continue to discharge their constitutional responsibilities as an Opposition. However, we cannot continue to waste valuable time pursuing engagements where there is no willingness to act together in a mature manner. We will continue to be disposed to working with other opposition forces. Hopefully, WIN sees the wisdom of working together,” Mahipaul said.
WIN leader Azruddin Mohamed responded with equal force, dismissing Mahipaul’s statements as “cheap and low” and accusing APNU of attempting to monopolise the PAC chairmanship. “No commitment was given,” Mohamed said, adding that his family had financially assisted APNU, including Mahipaul, over the years.
WIN MP and General Secretary Odessa Primus told Village Voice News that her party has made multiple attempts to engage APNU, but follow-up meetings failed to materialise. She stressed that WIN is open to collaboration on national issues but questioned the sincerity of APNU’s efforts. “If we would like to work together, let’s identify and move forward. In discussion with Mahipaul, it was about the areas he had a specific interest, though he was saying they should meet up, which I felt was more about self-interest than the party,” Primus said.
Primus added that WIN sees no fundamental problem in working with other opposition parties, including Forward Guyana Movement, non-parliamentary political parties, and civil society groups, if it serves the national interest.
Observers note that the delay in formally electing the Leader of the Opposition, combined with disagreements between APNU and WIN, undermines the ability of the opposition to effectively hold the governing People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) accountable. The Leader of the Opposition is responsible for leading the opposition in Parliament, appointing shadow ministers, participating in committees, and ensuring government oversight—functions that are central to the health of Guyana’s parliamentary democracy.
The disagreement highlights persistent challenges in forming a cohesive opposition capable of performing these constitutional duties, despite earlier discussions aimed at unifying parliamentary strategy.
