The We Invest in Nationhood (WIN) party is calling on newly elected Saint Vincent and the Grenadines (SVG) Prime Minister Dr. Godwin Friday to use his fresh mandate to champion democratic accountability within the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), including in Guyana.
Dr. Godwin Friday on Thursday, November 27 won a historic victory with New Democratic Party (NDP), capturing 14 of the 15 parliamentary seats — a landslide that ends the 24‑year rule of Dr. Ralph Gonsalves. Friday was sworn in on Friday, November 28.
In a statement issued by WIN Leader and Member of Parliament Azruddin Mohamed, the party congratulated Dr. Friday on what it described as a “historic victory” achieved after “decades of entrenched interests and unyielding political control.” Mohamed framed Friday’s ascent as a regional symbol of democratic renewal, stating that his “peaceful rise to power… represents a triumph of the people’s will over the chains that once bound the destiny of SVG.”
Drawing parallels to Guyana’s own political climate, the WIN leader argued that the Vincentian election underscores the difficulty of confronting what he called the “stranglehold of power”—a struggle marked by “intimidation, corruption, the abuse of state machinery, and the silencing of dissent.” According to Mohamed, the people of SVG demonstrated the resilience that democracy requires when citizens “dare to demand it.”
However, WIN’s message goes beyond congratulatory diplomacy. In a pointed appeal, Mohamed urged Dr. Friday to leverage his leadership to encourage Guyana’s government to uphold democratic norms—specifically, regarding the long-delayed election of the Leader of the Opposition.
Article 184(1) of the Guyana Constitution expressly states:
“The Leader of the Opposition shall be elected by and from among the non-governmental members of the National Assembly at a meeting held under the chairmanship of the Speaker of the National Assembly, who shall not have the right to vote.”
The National Assembly was convened on November 3, following the General and Regional Elections of September 1, 2025. However, Speaker Manzoor Nadir has refused to facilitate the process to elect the Leader of the Opposition. This inaction has created what legal and political observers describe as a deepening constitutional crisis, given the critical role of the Opposition Leader in major constitutional functions, including mandatory consultations with the President on key appointments.
Mohamed stated. He added that while CARICOM frequently speaks about democracy and “good governance,” those principles must be practiced, not merely proclaimed: “Words alone do not suffice. True leadership demands that we live up to those words.”
Mohamed ended his statement by expressing hope that Dr. Friday’s premiership will not only transform St. Vincent and the Grenadines but also inspire “renewed faith in democracy across our Caribbean Community.” He emphasised that “in hard times, the people deserve courage. In hopeful times, they deserve justice.”
The WIN statement positions the Vincentian political transition as a moment of regional reflection—one that, in the party’s view, should galvanise CARICOM leaders to take a firmer stand on democratic accountability within their own borders.
See Mohamed’s full statement below
As the people of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines welcome their new Prime Minister, I extend my warmest congratulations to Dr. Godwin Friday on his historic victory and assumption of office. Your peaceful rise to power after decades of entrenched interests and unyielding political control, represents a triumph of the people’s will over the chains that once bound the destiny of SVG.
We know from our own journey in Guyana how difficult it is to challenge the stranglehold of power: the intimidation, the corruption, the abuse of state machinery, and the silencing of dissent that are hallmarks of authoritarian rule. That you and your compatriots had the courage to break that hold is a testament to the resilience of democracy when citizens dare to demand it.
In this spirit of solidarity, I respectfully urge you now that you have inherited the mandate of democratic renewal to reach out to your fellow CARICOM brothers and sisters. In particular, I call on you to encourage the government in Guyana to honour democratic norms by installing the constitutionally-elected Leader of the Opposition immediately. For too long, we have heard talk of democracy in regional meetings and heard the rhetoric of
“good governance.” But words alone do not suffice. True leadership demands that we live up to those words.
May your premiership transform SVG and inspire renewed faith in democracy across our Caribbean Community. In hard times, the people deserve courage. In hopeful times, they deserve justice. May you lead with both.
Azruddin Mohamed, M.P.
Guyana’s 13th Parliament
Leader, We Invest in Nationhood (WIN)
