Dear Editor,
In every functioning democracy, the presence of a Leader of the Opposition is not a luxury — it is a necessity. The role exists to safeguard balance, ensure accountability, and provide a voice for those not represented in government. Yet today, Guyana stands at a troubling crossroads where the Speaker of the National Assembly has to convene a special meeting to elect the Leader of the Opposition and appears reluctant to do so.
If the Speaker refuses to act in accordance with democratic norms, then the Opposition Members of Parliament have both the right and responsibility to move a motion to the Speaker for the election of the Leader of the Opposition. Let that motion be placed before the House, and if the Speaker turns it down, let the world see clearly how the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) continues to erode democratic principles and operate with the mindset of a one-party, communist-style regime.
The Constitution and parliamentary conventions make it abundantly clear that a Leader of the Opposition is fundamental to the proper functioning of Parliament. The Opposition’s role is to scrutinize the government, question its actions, and represent the alternative view of the people. When the government seeks to suppress that role, it undermines the very essence of governance by consent.
A democracy without an Opposition is not a democracy at all — it becomes an autocracy disguised in parliamentary robes. The refusal to call a meeting or allow due process for the election of a Leader of the Opposition represents an affront to the people’s right to accountability.
This is not about political gamesmanship, but about protecting the democratic framework that so many fought to preserve. If the Speaker and the government refuse to allow a legitimate election, history will record this moment as another step toward totalitarian rule under the guise of democracy.
Democracy survives only when both sides of the aisle are allowed to function freely. The Opposition must stand firm, act within the law, and move the motion. And if the Speaker denies it — let the record show that the PPP’s actions mirror those of regimes that fear scrutiny, transparency, and truth.