The Guyana Trades Union Congress (GTUC) has called for the release of Opposition Leader Azruddin Mohamed to enable him to attend the National Assembly when it convenes on Wednesday, November 11, warning that his continued detention could undermine democratic representation and deny thousands of voters their elected voice in Parliament.
In a strongly worded statement issued on Sunday, November 8, GTUC General Secretary Lincoln Lewis called on the Guyana Prison Service, the Judiciary, the Executive and the Legislature to ensure that Mohamed is afforded the opportunity to participate in the sitting, either in person or virtually, according to his preference.
The Union also called on Clerk of the National Assembly Sherlock Isaacs to make the necessary arrangements to facilitate the Opposition Leader’s participation, arguing that his detention should not be used to prevent him from carrying out the responsibilities of his elected office.
The demand comes amid growing controversy over Mohamed’s remand following his arrest and charge in connection with the alleged unauthorised access to and disclosure of surveillance footage from the Guyana Police Force’s Command Centre.
The case behind Mohamed’s detention
Mohamed was jointly charged with Police Constable Ryan Greene on October 30 under Section 9 of the Cybercrime Act 2018. The charge relates to the alleged unauthorised granting of access to, or transfer of, electronic data said to concern the national security of the State.
Police allege that Greene, who was attached to the Police Force’s Command Centre, obtained recordings from the Government’s Safe City surveillance system and supplied them to Mohamed in exchange for a reported payment of $800,000. The footage relates to an October 12 incident outside the Kitty residence of Senior Superintendent of Police Prem Narine, head of the Special Branch Unit, during which Mohamed has maintained that he was the target of an assassination attempt.
Mohamed subsequently displayed portions of the recordings at a press conference, contending that they supported his account of the incident. The prosecution’s case, however, concerns how the footage was allegedly accessed and transferred, and whether the handling and disclosure of the material breached the Cybercrime Act.
Greene and Mohamed were denied bail by Magistrate Abigail Gibbs at the Sparendaam Magistrates’ Court and remanded until November 24. The prosecution argued against bail, citing the nature of the allegations and concerns about possible interference with the investigation. The defence challenged the charge and the prosecution’s account, disputing whether the alleged conduct established the elements of the offence.
A second police officer, Constable Ashton Chappelle, was subsequently charged in connection with the alleged extraction and transfer of the recordings. He was also denied bail and remanded. All three men remain accused, and the allegations have yet to be tested at trial.
GTUC says detention must not silence elected Opposition Leader
Against that background, the GTUC argues that Mohamed’s continued detention has consequences extending well beyond the criminal proceedings. It says his confinement restricts his ability to meet constituents, move freely, engage in political activity and participate in the work of the National Assembly.
Lewis recalled the Union had previously raised concerns that Mohamed’s remand could prevent him from performing his constitutional duties and attending Parliament.
The statement declared:
“This matter is about rights and the rule of law. We must not flinch where there exists clear and present danger to our democracy and person, regardless of who is affected or who stands to benefit.”
The GTUC questioned the refusal of bail, maintaining that the charge falls under legislation that provides for bail and arguing that detention should not become a means of disabling an elected political representative.
The union also invoked Article 155(1) of the Constitution, advancing its interpretation that an elected parliamentarian should not be prevented from serving in the National Assembly simply because he has been remanded and has not been convicted. That is the GTUC’s constitutional position; the precise legal implications of Mohamed’s detention and eligibility to participate in parliamentary proceedings remain matters for authoritative legal interpretation.
The union warned that if Mohamed is prevented from attending or participating in Wednesday’s sitting, it would regard that as confirmation that his detention is being used to obstruct his political and constitutional responsibilities.
“Unless the Opposition Leader is present GTUC will confirm the intent behind his detention is an antidemocratic move,” the statement said.
Representation and the responsibility of the State
The GTUC further emphasised Mohamed’s position as Leader of the Opposition and the electoral significance of the We Invest in Nationhood (WIN) party, which holds 16 of the 29 opposition seats in the 65-member National Assembly. WIN is the largest opposition bloc, and its parliamentary presence represents a substantial section of the electorate.
The union’s argument is that preventing the Opposition Leader from participating in parliamentary proceedings would raise fundamental questions about the ability of elected representatives to perform their duties while criminal proceedings are ongoing.
It placed responsibility on the Government for the safety and well-being of Mohamed, Greene and Chappelle, all of whom are in custody in connection with the matter.
The GTUC’s intervention places the spotlight on the intersection of criminal justice and parliamentary democracy. While the courts must determine the allegations against the accused, the upcoming sitting raises a separate and urgent question: whether an elected Opposition Leader in pre-trial detention can be provided with a means to participate in the work of the National Assembly.
With Parliament expected to convene on Wednesday, November 11, the GTUC is demanding that the relevant state institutions act to ensure that Mohamed is not shut out of the legislature while the case against him remains before the courts.
The union’s position is unequivocal: criminal proceedings must not become a substitute for the democratic process, and the rights of elected representatives must be protected alongside the principle that no accused person is above the law.
