Dear Editor,
Results from the 2025 General and Regional Elections have been declared by the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM). While some may be happy with the results, many are unhappy. The We Invest in Nationhood (WIN), as a new party, has consistently made it clear that the results were manipulated to produce the outcome declared by GECOM.
Although three parties were elected to represent the Opposition in the National Assembly, WIN received a majority of the vote and now leads the Opposition. Regardless of what one may think of any of the political parties, the results have, to a large extent, been accepted by the Opposition. Opposition parties, regardless of their positions, must work together as a cohesive force to address the intransigence of the current regime.
It is important to note that WIN entered national politics because many voters felt dissatisfied with the quality of representation the opposition delivered over the last five years. The challenges confronting the nation must be viewed from both sides of the fence—that is, from the behaviour of the government and that of the opposition. While WIN may have made its first impact on the national scene, its continuity depends on how well it performs in representing the issues of society.
Post-election conversations with APNU supporters reveal a clear impression among some that their problem is now with WIN rather than the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) regime. It is important to understand that WIN is not in the driving seat of the Executive. That being said the Opposition should come together and plan collectively how they would address the government on a clear parliamentary and common agenda. This does not mean the parties will not exercise independence, but finding common ground is pivotal to parliamentary success and to the quality of representation the people expect, including those who supported the PPP, did not vote, or voted for another party that did not secure a parliamentary seat.
Guyanese expected when the Opposition met last Monday to elect the Leader of the Opposition, opportunities would have been taken to begin negotiation between and among parliamentary groups. It was also not unreasonable to expect that both APNU and the Forward Guyana Movement (FGM) would have congratulated the Leader of the Opposition, set a time to meet, and work out the modalities of their relationship going forward.
No negotiation starts without discussion. And negotiation is not about who is right or wrong. It is about working together to build cohesion between and among the groups and generating an agenda to address the government. The government’s preference to work with the previous opposition rather than the current one suggests it feels confident it can avoid scrutiny of the issues currently raised by WIN and its leadership.
At the same time, APNU has a responsibility to confirm or dispel this claimed alliance through the representation it provides to the people. The failure of APNU to provide spirited representation and hold the government accountable could lead to dire consequences for its future, particularly for the People’s National Congress (PNC), which has played a pivotal role in this nation’s development.
The PPP is known to speak about the Constitution and Laws of Guyana, but at no time is the party prepared to give credit to any group outside of itself and its allies, even if this requires violating these principles. Conscious of these circumstances, it is important that opposition parliamentary parties intensify their efforts to develop an agenda that considers the concerns and desires of the people.
It is most unfortunate, therefore, to hear from the Opposition on the eve of budget debates that they have not reached agreement on the speaking line-up and may go their separate ways. This does not bode well for future relations if it is not addressed promptly.
The Opposition must be mindful that it is not setting the stage for further exclusion of the people it is elected to represent. Let me remind them that the political system of this nation, as enshrined in Article 13 of the Constitution, is one of “inclusionary democracy.” And if the opposition cannot strive to forge this relationship between and among themselves on behalf of the people they are elected to represent, they become part and parcel of the exclusionary politics practiced by the PPP, which is inconsistent with the Principal Political Objective of this nation.
The people are fed up with leadership that does not uphold our desire to live in peace and harmony and have a seat at the decision-making table on matters that impact our well-being, as outlined in the Constitution. The people have spoken. They expect stellar leadership and representation. No government can be effective and efficient in the face of a weak opposition, and no opposition can claim to represent the people when it abrogates the most basic principle of our governance system: putting the people first. This is not sloganeering; it is a fundamental principle running through the Constitution and Laws of Guyana.
Our most important resource is the people, and nothing can be achieved when their welfare is trampled on. Finally, the trade union movement did not lead the charge for one-man-one-vote and internal self-government to see it sabotaged by self-serving interests. As we mark the 100th anniversary this year of that struggle, it is about time our representatives deliver.