Forward Guyana Petitions for Immediate Sitting of Parliament

The action comes at a time when Parliament has gone for almost three months without a sitting and key oversight committees, including the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) and sectoral committees, remain unconstituted more than six months after the National Assembly reconvened.

The issue has become increasingly contentious following Guyana’s rapid economic expansion after the 2015 discovery of offshore oil reserves by ExxonMobil. Since oil production began in 2019, Guyana has earned billions in petroleum revenues while government spending, borrowing, and major infrastructure projects have expanded significantly, prompting growing calls for stronger parliamentary oversight and transparency in the management of public funds.

Governance advocates, civil society organisations, and opposition voices have warned that the absence of regular parliamentary sittings and functioning oversight mechanisms undermines democratic accountability during one of the most consequential economic periods in the country’s history.

In a release Monday, FGM representative and lone parliamentarian Amanza Walton-Desir said the movement wrote members of the international community on the issue, drawing attention to  the seriousness and constitutional implications of the prolonged parliamentary shutdown and the broader concerns surrounding governance and democratic accountability in Guyana.

In the petition, citizens argued that Parliament’s constitutional role is central to the functioning of the State.

“The Constitution is clear: sovereignty belongs to the people of Guyana, and it is exercised through Parliament. When Parliament does not function, when it fails to sit regularly, when its oversight committees remain unconstituted, and when citizens cannot follow or engage with the parliamentary process, that sovereignty is denied.”

The petition outlined several areas of concern, including the absence of parliamentary sittings, the lack of oversight committees, and the absence of a structured parliamentary calendar.

“We are concerned because:

Parliament has gone more than 90 days without a single sitting, with no explanation and no formal resolution authorizing any recess. Key oversight bodies, including the Sectoral Committees and the Public Accounts Committee, remain unconstituted more than six months after Parliament reconvened. Without a published parliamentary calendar, citizens cannot meaningfully follow, understand, or engage with the decisions being made on their behalf. Billions in public revenues, including unprecedented oil earnings — are being managed without adequate legislative scrutiny.”

The Public Accounts Committee (PAC), traditionally chaired by the parliamentary opposition, is regarded as one of Parliament’s most important accountability mechanisms, examining government expenditure and reviewing reports from the Auditor General. Sectoral committees similarly provide oversight of government policy and administration across major areas including natural resources, social services, economic services, and foreign affairs.

Their absence or inactivity has fueled debate over transparency, governance, procurement practices, and the management of Guyana’s rapidly growing oil wealth.

FGM, which has increasingly focused on constitutional reform and governance issues, said the matter transcends partisan politics and concerns the preservation of democratic accountability itself.

The petition calls on the National Assembly to:

• “Convene Parliament immediately and ensure it meets at regular, predictable intervals sufficient to discharge its constitutional functions.”
• “Establish and publish a structured parliamentary calendar to promote transparency, accountability, and public confidence.”
• “Constitute without further delay all standing and sectoral committees, including the Public Accounts Committee, so that Parliament can effectively scrutinise government policy, administration, and expenditure.”
• “Take all steps necessary to fully and effectively discharge its role as the democratic organ through which the sovereignty of the people of Guyana is exercised.”

The petition concludes with a direct appeal to lawmakers:

“Parliament belongs to the people. It must work for the people.”