Pressure Mounts as Diplomats Urge Guyana to Convene Parliament and Elect Opposition Leader

GEORGETOWN, Guyana — Senior diplomatic representatives from the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada and the European Union have publicly urged Guyana’s political actors to move quickly to convene Parliament and complete the election of a Leader of the Opposition, warning that a functioning legislature depends on the participation of all elected members.

In comments reported by the press, U.S. Ambassador Nicole Theriot said she was encouraging the convening of Parliament and the election of the Opposition Leader “as soon as possible,” linking the delay to the importance of a functioning opposition and an active Parliament for Guyana’s development.

British High Commissioner Jane Miller, also quoted in coverage, called for the election to take place “without delay,” noting that the Opposition Leader’s appointment is necessary for parliamentarians to fully carry out their constitutional duties.

Canada’s High Commissioner Sébastien Sigouin struck a more procedural note, emphasizing that the appointment of the Opposition Leader and the scheduling of sittings are matters for Guyana’s “constitutional actors” to resolve in accordance with the law.

EU Ambassador Luca Pierantoni, according to the same reporting, expressed confidence that the issue would be resolved once parliamentary business resumes, saying he would be surprised if Parliament does not sit within the next couple of weeks.

The push from diplomats comes amid continued questions over why Speaker of the National Assembly Manzoor Nadir has not convened the meeting/sitting that typically facilitates the election of the Opposition Leader. Stabroek News reported that more than two months after Parliament last met, no public explanation had been provided for the continued delay.

Kaieteur News reported that Guyana’s 13th Parliament convened on November 3, 2025, when government and opposition MPs were sworn in, but no date has since been announced for a sitting to elect the Opposition Leader.

Under the current seat distribution cited in that report, WIN holds 16 seats, APNU holds 12, and the Forward Guyana Movement holds one—meaning WIN has the largest bloc among opposition MPs.

The leading contender to be selected is widely expected to be Azruddin Mohamed, leader of We Invest in Nationhood (WIN), but he is also facing legal complications linked to a U.S. extradition request and related criminal charges reported internationally.

Demerara Waves reported Ambassador Theriot saying Guyana needs an Opposition Leader for a “functioning parliament,” and that the issue should be resolved despite Mohamed’s legal troubles. The same report quoted President Irfaan Ali dismissing as “absolutely ridiculous” suggestions that Parliament is not being convened to avoid Mohamed’s election.

WIN, for its part, has argued that the delay is deliberate and welcomed what it described as growing diplomatic concern over the impasse.

The diplomatic statements have added pressure for clarity on two immediate steps:

1. a date for Parliament to sit, and

2. a mechanism to complete the Opposition Leader’s election so the National Assembly can proceed with its work.

For now, the issue remains unresolved, but the unusually direct public remarks from multiple Western missions signal heightened international attention to how quickly Guyana’s constitutional offices move to restore full parliamentary function.