The National Assembly begins debates on the $1.558 trillion 2026 Budget today at 2:00 p.m., with the main Opposition party, We Invest in Nationhood (WIN), holding 16 of the 29 Opposition seats in the 13th Parliament. A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) holds 12 seats, while the Forward Guyana Movement has one. The governing People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) controls the remaining 36 seats in the 65-member National Assembly.
Ahead of the debates, WIN issued a statement emphasising the importance of parliamentary decorum and adherence to Standing Orders during proceedings. The party highlighted the need for Members of Parliament to refrain from interruptions, heckling, or any conduct that undermines the dignity of the House.
“Frequent, loud, or contemptuous interruptions, especially those expressing dissent, derision, or ridicule, constitute disorder. Where such conduct persists, the Chair is empowered under Standing Order No. 47 to restore order, including directing disorderly Members to withdraw,” WIN said.
The party also condemned the repeated use of the word “hoodlum” during the nearly seven-hour Budget presentation by Dr. Ashni Singh, Minister within the Ministry of Finance, on January 26, 2026. “Such language is unbecoming of Parliament, lowers the standard of debate, and is wholly inconsistent with the dignity of this House. Of equal concern is that no objection was raised, nor any corrective action taken by the Speaker of the National Assembly, Manzoor Nadir, at the time,” the statement added.
WIN affirmed that its Parliamentarians are prepared to engage in disciplined, substantive debate, and will monitor whether the Government benches, particularly the PPP, respect the Standing Orders and uphold the integrity of parliamentary proceedings.
Budget debates are expected to cover key allocations across sectors including health, education, infrastructure, and social development, with scrutiny from both the Opposition and civil society anticipated throughout the session.
