WIN Party threatens legal action over delay in electing Guyana’s leader of the Opposition

Azruddin Mohamed

The We Invest in Nationhood (WIN) party, led by Guyana businessman Azruddin Mohamed, has threatened to take legal action against Speaker of the National Assembly Manzoor Nadir for failing to convene a meeting of opposition members to elect the Leader of the Opposition.

In a letter dated November 17, 2025, WIN’s attorney Siand Dhurjon said the 16 non-governmental members of parliament—including Mohamed, Natasha Singh-Lewis, Tabitha Sarabo-Halley, Dawn Hastings-Williams, Odessa Primus, Duarte Hetsberger, Tonshana Famey-Corlette, Vishnu Panday, Beverley Cornelius, Gobin Harbhajan, Deon La Cruz, Nandranie Singh, Dr. Gordon Barker, Janelle Sweatnam, Dr. Ryan Richards, and Dr. Andre Lewis—requested that the Speaker convene the meeting within 14 days, warning that failure to do so would result in proceedings being instituted in the Supreme Court.

“On behalf of my clients, I do hereby require that you take all steps necessary to convene a meeting among the non-governmental members of the National Assembly for the purpose of electing the Leader of the Opposition under Article 184(1) of the Constitution within fourteen (14) days, failing which I shall institute proceedings in the Supreme Court to compel you to act accordingly and to seek all other reliefs necessary to vindicate my clients’ interests,” Dhurjon wrote.

The attorney noted that at the first sitting of the 13th Session of Parliament on November 3, 2025, several MPs handed the Speaker a letter requesting the meeting. Dhurjon said the Speaker responded verbally to Ms. Singh-Lewis, stating that he would not convene the meeting that day, adding ambiguously, “it doesn’t have to be until the next sitting.”

Dhurjon argued there was no impediment to holding the meeting on November 3, since all opposition MPs were present at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre, and he criticised the lack of response to subsequent inquiries. He emphasised that the Leader of the Opposition is a constitutionally significant officeholder with responsibilities including consultation on major appointments, and described the delay as “inconceivable.”

Following the convening of parliament earlier this month, political analyst Isaacs explained that while the Constitution outlines the process for electing the Opposition Leader, it does not specify exactly when the meeting must occur, leaving it to the discretion of the Speaker.

WIN expressed concern that the Speaker’s silence “calls into question the impartiality of the parliamentary process” and accused the administration of deliberately stalling the election. “The Leader of the Opposition is not symbolic; the Constitution requires that the holder of this office be consulted on major appointments, including the Police Commissioner, Chancellor, Chief Justice, and members of the Judicial Service Commission. Delaying this office undermines the balance of power and signals a disregard for constitutional governance,” the party said.