In an interview with Village Voice News, APNU Member of Parliament Ganesh Mahipaul confirmed that, as of this morning, discussions between the two sides had not produced consensus.
“No, we have not,” Mahipaul said. “APNU is comfortable moving forward without shadowing any ministry in the upcoming debates. We cannot allow ourselves to be bullied by WIN or permit WIN to impose shadow ministries on us without formal dialogue and genuine compromise.”
Mahipaul said APNU supports proportionality as the basis for cooperation but accused WIN, that has 16 seats, of seeking dominance rather than partnership. “We maintain that proportionality is the principled basis for cooperation, but WIN has clearly chosen dominance over partnership,” he stated. “Let them shadow all the ministries if they so wish; we will continue to represent the people of Guyana through extra-parliamentary and parliamentary engagement.”
He noted that APNU’s 12 Members of Parliament already have internal shadow responsibilities and will honour those roles. According to Mahipaul, shadow designations in the budget debate are relevant primarily to the allotment of speaking time. “We are confident that we can be effective with fifteen (15) minutes plus five (5), which we fully intend to be,” he said.
Responding to comments attributed to Clerk of the National Assembly Sherlock Isaacs that proportionality has never governed the allocation of speakers, Mahipaul said the current impasse is unprecedented. “That is because there has never been a disagreement the way there is one right now,” he said, describing proportionality as a “plausible solution” to the deadlock.
“It is the first time we are in a situation where the number of shadows cannot be filled by any side of the opposition because we simply don’t have the numbers singularly,” Mahipaul added. “Proportionality was a suggestion to solve the problem but WIN clearly prefers bullyism.”
Mahipaul said he is APNU’s point of contact on the matter and confirmed discussions with opposition figures Tabitha Sarabo-Halley and Azruddin Mohamed. He said he was unaware of any formal mediation, but indicated APNU remains open to facilitation. “Any person who wishes to facilitate, we in the APNU would happily participate, but we remain locked on the principle of proportionality,” he said. “It speaks to fairness.”
Village Voice News reached out to WIN for a comment on APNU’s position but had not received a response up to the time of publication.
However, WIN Leader and Leader of the Opposition Azruddin Mohamed told Kaieteur News last Friday that if both parties choose to shadow the same ministry, including the Ministry of Education, and no agreement is reached, the speaking time would likely be divided.
“That is what we are hearing. So, I don’t find it as a, you know, as a problem. I don’t see it as a problem,” Mohamed was quoted as saying.
When asked whether discussions with APNU were ongoing, Mohamed said, “I reached out to Ganesh in terms of the speakers, and so, yes, I did… No, it’s not settled as yet, but as I mentioned, they can shadow and we can shadow is just the time like reducing half you understand?”
Mohamed also said that opposition Chief Whip Tabitha Sarabo-Halley is expected to submit WIN’s list of speakers ahead of Monday’s budget debates.
The disagreement underscores ongoing tensions within the opposition as it seeks to coordinate its response to the 2026 Budget amid limited parliamentary numbers and competing approaches to collaboration.
The Forward Guyana Movement, which holds one seat, complements the 29 seats allocated to the Opposition in the 65-seat National Assembly.
