Presumptive Opposition Leader and We Invest in Nationhood (WIN) leader Azruddin Mohamed has intensified calls for regional and international intervention as Guyana, a founding member of CARICOM, approaches four months without an elected Leader of the Opposition following the September 1, 2025 General Election.
The situation has raised constitutional questions, with political commentators noting that Article 184(1) of the Constitution requires that:
“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.”
It is this constitutionally mandated meeting — which must be convened by the Speaker or chaired in his absence by the Deputy Speaker — that Mohamed says is being deliberately delayed.
In his letter to CARICOM Secretary-General Dr. Carla Barnett, Mohamed accused the government of frustrating the process by failing to convene the necessary sitting of the National Assembly.
He referenced President Irfaan Ali’s recent comment that he “believes” Speaker Manzoor Nadir is out of the country — a response Mohamed described as shocking and unacceptable at such a critical moment. He stressed that Deputy Speaker Dr. Vishwa Mahadeo is present and constitutionally empowered to act, yet the government has not moved to proceed.
“There can be no doubt that, based on the number of seats won, I lead the largest voting bloc in the opposition,” Mohamed wrote, urging CARICOM’s “urgent and immediate intervention” to safeguard Guyana’s democratic institutions. WIN has 16 seats; the A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) 12 and the Forward Guyana Movement (FGM) one, amounting to 29 seats allocated to the Opposition in the 65-seat Assembly.
He argued that Guyana is “at a critical juncture in its democratic development,” and emphasised CARICOM’s responsibility to act consistently with the principles it promotes across the region.
Mohamed expressed frustration that CARICOM has remained silent despite his previous correspondences. He referenced earlier letters — dated August 20 and September 11, 2025 — outlining what he described as political victimisation, including the closure of more than 76 bank accounts belonging to WIN candidates. He described this as “a deliberate act of political victimization, designed to muzzle dissent,” and said the continued closures violate international and regional democratic commitments.
He also repeated allegations of targeted harassment and intimidation, including revoked firearm licenses, raids on his home and businesses, travel restrictions, late-night police actions, cyberbullying campaigns, drone surveillance, disruptions of community meetings, and victimisation of supporters through dismissals and cancelled contracts. These actions, he said, form a “sustained” campaign against him and his party.
“Functional democracy requires a robust and respected opposition,” he wrote, warning that the prolonged vacancy of the Opposition Leader’s post weakens democratic checks and balances at a time when Guyana faces significant political polarisation and rapid economic change.
Mohamed urged CARICOM to request that Speaker Nadir immediately convene the National Assembly and to assist in strengthening institutional protections for the opposition. He also called for CARICOM to broker a binding Code of Ethical Political Conduct among Guyana’s major political parties.
He reminded Dr. Barnett of CARICOM’s past role in resolving Guyana’s 2020 election crisis, saying: “That same spirit of guardianship is desperately needed now.” He also cautioned against selective application of democratic principles, arguing that while CARICOM advocates for democratic rights in countries like Haiti, “the democratic rights of Guyanese citizens… are being systematically undermined at home.”
This latest letter follows Mohamed’s correspondence last week to newly elected Prime Minister of St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Dr. Godwin Friday, appealing for regional leadership as Guyana’s political deadlock continues.
To signal the gravity of the situation, Mohamed also copied his letter to Jamaican Prime Minister Andrew Holness, Chair of CARICOM; Commonwealth Secretary-General Patricia Scotland KC; Canadian High Commissioner to Guyana and Suriname Sébastien Sigouin; major Caribbean media houses; Transparency International; the Organisation of American States (OAS); the EU Election Observation Mission to Guyana 2025; and The Carter Center.
“We are at a crossroads,” Mohamed warned. “I call on you to fulfill CARICOM’s duty to protect democracy and to act decisively to ensure that Guyana does not go down the road of becoming an undemocratic nation within CARICOM.”
None of the copied parties have yet publicly responded.
See full letter below:
𝐂𝐀𝐑𝐈𝐂𝐎𝐌’𝐬 𝐌𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐭𝐞𝐜𝐭 𝐃𝐞𝐦𝐨𝐜𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐲 𝐖𝐢𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧 𝐌𝐞𝐦𝐛𝐞𝐫 𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐬
Her Excellency Dr. Carla Barnett
Secretary-General of CARICOM
𝐘𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐄𝐱𝐜𝐞𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐲 𝐒𝐞𝐜𝐫𝐞𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐲-𝐆𝐞𝐧𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐥 𝐁𝐚𝐫𝐧𝐞𝐭𝐭,
The We Invest in Nationhood (WIN) political party is requesting CARICOM’s urgent and immediate intervention to prevail upon the government of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana to stop blocking the constitutional process and enable the election of the Leader of the Opposition, which has been improperly delayed for over three months after the September 1, 2025 elections. There can be no doubt that, based on the number of seats won, I lead the largest voting bloc in the opposition. In that capacity, I, M.P. Azruddin Mohamed, write to you directly. I do so as someone who firmly believes in the ideals of unity, democracy, and prosperity that the Caribbean Community so ably represents. It is with a deep sense of urgency and respect for your office as Secretary-General, that I implore the direct intercession and good offices of CARICOM to assist Guyana in navigating this critical juncture in its democratic development.
It appears history repeats itself, as your predecessor too was also in the last year of his tenure, as you are yourself, and he successfully facilitated an interlocutor mission in 2020 that broke a national deadlock and restored confidence in democracy. It is my sincere hope that you, too, will wish to contribute meaningfully to safeguarding constitutional governance in a member state that has hosted the CARICOM Secretariat and given you a place to call home for now nearly five years. Noting that the observations of your own countrywoman and distinguished envoy whom you selected to lead the CARICOM Election Observation Mission, highlighted the need for a level playing field. In light of those findings, it is reasonable to expect that CARICOM would be moved to act in defence of the very principles it champions.
𝐁𝐀𝐂𝐊𝐆𝐑𝐎𝐔𝐍𝐃
Since September 1, 2025, at the conclusion of Guyana’s General Election, the installed President, Irfaan Ali, was sworn in one day after the Guyana Elections Commission declared the result in favour of the incumbent party, the People’s Progressive Party. However, the election of the Leader of the Opposition, has been deliberately frustrated.
Recently, upon inquiry by members of the Guyana Press Association about the non-election of the Leader of the Opposition, the President revealed by astonishment, for the first time, that he “believes” the Speaker of the National Assembly, Mr. Manzoor Nadir, is out of the country. The country is questioning why, at such a critical time, the Speaker is traveling. It should be noted that the Deputy Speaker of the House, Dr. Vishwa Mahadeo, is in the country and can readily deputize in the Speaker’s absence. This logic is clear yet ignored by the sitting government. Because this constitutionally mandated process is being held in abeyance by the Speaker of the National Assembly, the people’s business of transparency and accountability has been buried and undermined by the refusal to convene the meeting required for the election of the Leader of the Opposition.
It is alarming that despite my repeated appeals to the office of the Secretary-General, I have been met with silence from CARICOM.
𝗣𝗥𝗘𝗩𝗜𝗢𝗨𝗦 𝗖𝗢𝗥𝗥𝗘𝗦𝗣𝗢𝗡𝗗𝗘𝗡𝗖𝗘
- 𝐋𝐞𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐝𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐀𝐮𝐠𝐮𝐬𝐭 𝟐𝟎, 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟓, 𝐒𝐮𝐛𝐣𝐞𝐜𝐭: 𝐔𝐫𝐠𝐞𝐧𝐭 – 𝐃𝐢𝐬𝐜𝐫𝐢𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐏𝐨𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐥 𝐈𝐧𝐣𝐮𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐞 𝐢𝐧 𝐆𝐮𝐲𝐚𝐧𝐚
WIN brought to the attention of the office of the Secretary-General the closure of more than 76 bank accounts belonging to WIN Candidates. This was a deliberate act of political victimization, designed to muzzle dissent and hold opposition figures hostage.
𝐁𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐜𝐡 𝐨𝐟 𝐈𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐧𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐑𝐞𝐠𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐢𝐭𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐬
WIN highlighted that the continued closure of these accounts constitutes a violation of Guyana’s obligations under international and regional law, including:
- Universal Declaration of Human Rights (Articles 2 and 7) – protection from discrimination and equality before the law.
- International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (Articles 25 and 26) – the right to participate in public life and equal protection regardless of political opinion.
- Charter of Civil Society for the Caribbean Community (1997) – affirming political rights, non-discrimination, and fair participation for all citizens of CARICOM states.
𝟐. 𝐋𝐞𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐝𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐒𝐞𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐦𝐛𝐞𝐫 𝟏𝟏, 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟓, 𝐒𝐮𝐛𝐣𝐞𝐜𝐭: 𝐔𝐫𝐠𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐀𝐩𝐩𝐞𝐚𝐥 – 𝐑𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐨𝐟 𝐁𝐚𝐧𝐤 𝐀𝐜𝐜𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐭𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐖𝐈𝐍 𝐂𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐝𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐌𝐞𝐦𝐛𝐞𝐫𝐬
In that letter, WIN requested your urgent intervention to:
- Engage directly with Guyana’s commercial banks and the Bank of Guyana to ascertain the reasons behind the account closures
- Issue a strong, public statement condemning these closures as an attack on democracy and political freedoms
- Demand the immediate reinstatement of all affected accounts to prevent further disruption to our members’ lives and livelihoods
In both correspondences, WIN also appealed for:
- CARICOM engagement with the Government of Guyana to end this persecution
- Deployment of CARICOM observers to investigate and report on these violations
- Facilitation of regional mechanisms to guarantee access to fair financial services for excluded citizens until their rights are restored
As of today, all WIN Candidates’ accounts remain closed. This ongoing situation continues to violate the basic human and political rights of our members and all Guyanese citizens.
It is concerning that despite repeated requests and clear evidence of political persecution, the office of the Secretary-General has taken no action to address these serious violations.
𝐏𝐎𝐋𝐈𝐓𝐈𝐂𝐀𝐋 𝐏𝐄𝐑𝐒𝐄𝐂𝐔𝐓𝐈𝐎𝐍
I remind you that the political persecution against me began long before I announced my candidacy for President. The following are only some of the actions taken against me, my family, our candidates, and supporters:
- Revocation of my firearm licenses, stripping me of the legal ability to protect myself and my family
- Directives issued to state agencies, including the Guyana Revenue Authority and the Guyana Police Force, to raid my private residence and seize my vehicles based on fabricated charges that were later dismissed
- Attempts to restrict my movement, including political directives to private airlines to refuse to transport me to other regions, thereby hindering my community outreaches
- Late‑night attempted arrest, during which heavily armed, plain‑clothes members of the Guyana Police Force descended on one of my business premises at 23:00 hrs
- Police harassment while traveling between regions, coupled with disruptions (sometimes violent) of my community meetings by PPP-aligned groups
- Sustained cyberbullying, stalking, and harassment targeting me, my family, my candidates, and even supporters, led and amplified by PPP Ministers and their affiliates
- Illegal surveillance of my home and movements, conducted using drones operated by PPP affiliate Ameir Ahmad, owner of the Sheriff Group
- Tracking and following of my vehicles by Special Branch operatives under directives of the PPP
- Refusal by majority of NDCs to permit WIN meetings in any public spaces, effectively denying us access to community facilities
- Victimization of WIN supporters, including dismissals, forced transfers, cancellation of government contracts, and targeted harassment by PPP affiliates.
It is troubling that, despite repeated appeals to the office of the Secretary-General, and the extensive public coverage of these violations that no doubt reached your attention, CARICOM has taken no action in response to these instances of grave political persecution and injustices.
𝐂𝐔𝐑𝐑𝐄𝐍𝐓 𝐒𝐈𝐓𝐔𝐀𝐓𝐈𝐎𝐍
Excellency, functional democracy requires a robust and respected opposition. The Leader of the Opposition plays a constitutionally mandated role in providing checks and balances, representing alternative viewpoints, and safeguarding the interests of all citizens. When this role is diminished, either through political impasse or a breakdown in dialogue, the democratic process suffers, and national unity becomes an elusive goal.
Further, Dr. Barnett, Guyana stands at a pivotal moment in its history. Blessed with unprecedented economic potential, our nation’s greatest challenge is not the management of resources, but the cultivation of a stable, cohesive, and inclusive political environment. The current political landscape, marked by deep polarization and a lack of constructive engagement between the government and the parliamentary opposition, threatens to undermine the very foundations of our democracy and hinder the equitable distribution of the benefits of our development.
𝐈𝐍𝐓𝐄𝐑𝐕𝐄𝐍𝐓𝐈𝐎𝐍
WIN views CARICOM as a catalyst for positive change. Consequently, I request the office of the Secretary-General to:
- Urgently request that the Speaker of the National Assembly in Guyana, Mr. Manzoor Nadir, convene a meeting to elect the Leader of the Opposition
- Exercise your expertise and support in strengthening our institutional frameworks, ensuring that the rights and responsibilities of the opposition, as enshrined in our Constitution, are fully respected and operationalized for the benefit of good governance. This can only be re-established with the election of Guyana’s Leader of the Opposition
- Encourage and support the adoption of a binding Code of Ethical Political Conduct, brokered by CARICOM, to which all major political parties in Guyana would commit, fostering a culture of respect, tolerance, and issue-based politics
𝐂𝐀𝐑𝐈𝐂𝐎𝐌’𝐒 𝐏𝐀𝐒𝐓 𝐑𝐎𝐋𝐄 𝐈𝐍 𝐆𝐔𝐘𝐀𝐍𝐀
CARICOM has a proud history of upholding democratic principles and mediating conflicts within our region. Your successful role in ensuring a peaceful transition of government in Guyana following the 2020 elections stands as a testament to the trust and credibility the Community commands. That same spirit of guardianship is desperately needed now, not to adjudicate an election, but to help heal a nation by ensuring the election of Guyana’s Leader of the Opposition.
We are at a crossroads. One path leads to deepened division and squandered potential. The other, which I earnestly seek with your help, leads to a future where Guyana truly becomes a model of Caribbean prosperity, unity, and democratic resilience.
I remind you, Secretary-General Barnett, and through you the Conference of Heads of Government, of your duty as the guardian of democracy in the Caribbean. While you call for the protection of democratic institutions in other member states such as Haiti, the democratic rights of Guyanese citizens, including the proper functioning of the opposition, are being systematically undermined at home. CARICOM’s mandate includes ensuring that all member states uphold democratic norms, protect political freedoms, and guarantee the rights of opposition parties and citizens alike.
It is within your authority and responsibility to safeguard democracy in Guyana and to ensure that the principles CARICOM champions are applied consistently and not selectively.
I call on you to fulfill CARICOM’s duty to protect democracy and to act decisively to ensure that Guyana does not go down the road of becoming an undemocratic nation within CARICOM.
Respectfully,
Azruddin Mohamed, M.P.
Leader of We Invest in Nationhood (WIN)
