Dear Editor,
Guyana stands today at a dangerous crossroads. On one hand, we boast of unprecedented wealth, fuelled by oil revenues and evidenced by a record-breaking G$1.558 trillion national budget in 2026, with promises of a multi-trillion-dollar economy on the horizon. On the other hand, we are witnessing the continued entrenchment of exclusionary politics that shut out large sections of our population from meaningful participation in the affairs of the State. It is a contradiction that should concern every citizen, for national prosperity means little when large sections of the nation are excluded from the decisions that shape their future.
This culture of exclusion is evident in the strained relationship between the government and the opposition, between the government and sections of civil society, and even between the opposition and sections of civil society. This behaviour goes against the fundamental principle that both government and opposition are maintained by the taxes of all Guyanese and entrusted with the responsibility to represent the people, regardless of political affiliation, while collectively protecting and advancing the interests and well-being of the nation.
We are witnessing a situation where, too often, political loyalty is rewarded while dissenting voices are ignored. This exclusionary approach is reflected in the composition of commissions, state boards, public bodies and the denial of state funding. If left unchecked, it risks becoming entrenched in the proposed state-owned Development Bank, transforming what should be a national institution into yet another instrument of partisan control.
We cannot continue on this self-destructive path. According to GECOM’s last declaration, the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) was allocated half of the votes cast, the combined opposition the other half, and more than a quarter of the voting population did not vote and stayed at home. These are facts that must no longer be ignored.
Equally important is the fact that the PPP/C was not allocated unanimous support, nor was it granted sole ownership or exclusive control of the nation. Guyana’s system of representative democracy is built on proportional representation, where political power is allocated according to the votes received and where all significant voices in society are entitled to representation. The election results therefore conferred upon the PPP/C the responsibility to govern, but not the authority to govern as though the other half of the electorate, or those who abstained from voting, do not matter. To behave otherwise is to misunderstand both the spirit of democracy and the obligations that come with political office.
For years, Guyana has operated under a political culture where a parliamentary majority is often treated as a licence to govern without consultation, without compromise, and without regard for the concerns of those who did not vote for the government of the day. But our Constitution does not envision such a system. Article 13 speaks clearly to an inclusionary democracy—one in which citizens participate in the management and decision-making processes of the State and where governance reflects the interests of all the people, not merely those aligned with the ruling party. But this is not happening.
Citizens are expressing their concerns. Civil society is expressing its concerns. Political leaders are expressing their concerns. There is a growing feeling across this country that decisions are being made by a narrow group of individuals while the voices of workers, pensioners, the young, and ordinary people are being ignored. This approach to governance breeds mistrust, division, and alienation.
This is why the proposal for the state-owned Development Bank must be subjected to greater scrutiny. This is not a matter of whether Guyana needs such a bank, because we do. It is a matter of who will control it, who will sit on its board, and whose interests it will ultimately serve. For me, and for many others, it must serve the interests of all the people.
The resources that will capitalise this institution do not belong to the government. They do not belong to a political party. They belong to the people of Guyana. Every farmer, every worker, every small business owner, every young entrepreneur, and every taxpayer has a stake in how these resources are managed. For that reason, the governance structure of the bank must inspire public confidence.
Unfortunately, confidence is in short supply in a society where many of those placed in positions of authority behave as though the only opinions that matter are their own or those of their political bosses. Such arrogance has created a widening trust deficit between public institutions and the wider society. Ignoring that reality will only deepen existing divisions and reinforce the perception that too many institutions serve political interests rather than the people they were created to serve.
The board of a State Development Bank must therefore reflect a broad cross-section of Guyanese society. It must not become another institution controlled by political loyalists. Representation should extend beyond government appointees to include voices from the opposition, labour, business, professional bodies, and other sectors of civil society. Transparency, accountability, competence, and public trust must be the guiding principles.
The people of Guyana should never find themselves in a position where access to development financing depends on political connections, where citizens must seek the intervention of a politician to secure a loan, or where economic opportunity is filtered through partisan considerations. That would be a betrayal of the very purpose of a development bank.
This country belongs to all of us, not to politicians. The Constitution itself recognises this reality. It provides for shared responsibility in governance and acknowledges the role of the Leader of the Opposition within the Executive framework of the State, and organisations such as trade unions at the decision-making table as outlined in Article 149C. We are not required to agree on everything, but we are required to engage each other, to respect each other, and to work towards outcomes that serve the national interest.
The time has come to move beyond the politics of exclusion and domination. The time has come to make Article 13 a living reality rather than a constitutional ornament quoted only when convenient.
I therefore call on the Opposition to mobilise the wider forces of the nation—labour, business, religious organisations, professional bodies, community groups, and all citizens committed to democracy—to demand a system of governance that reflects the spirit and letter of our Constitution. For where the regime ignores the other half of society, it is your duty and responsibility, together with the people, to resist such exclusion and compel adherence to the principles of inclusionary democracy.
This is not merely a banking issue. It is a political issue that requires political leadership. Half of this nation cannot be shut out of a trillion-dollar economy. Such exclusion is not only immoral and unjust; it violates the rights of citizens and undermines the constitutional obligation to govern in an inclusionary manner. If Guyana’s wealth is to become a blessing rather than a source of deeper division, then all the people must have a seat at the table.
The moment for action is now.