Former Speaker of the National Assembly, Ralph Ramkarran, has voiced significant concerns regarding the prolonged delays by the current Speaker in calling a meeting to elect a Leader of the Opposition. In his recent conversation tree column, Ramkarran pointed out that since 2000, the election process for this position has faced no controversies until now.
Ramkarran emphasized that the absence of a Leader of the Opposition is already impacting the constitutional governance of Guyana. He highlighted that consultations regarding appointments to the Teaching Service Commission cannot occur in the absence of this key figure. He also questioned the Executive’s intentions in potentially presenting the 2026 Budget without a fully constituted National Assembly.
Since the convening of the 13th Parliament in November, the Speaker has yet to summon a meeting for the election of the Opposition Leader by opposition members. Ramkarran believes this meeting could be held quickly, noting it typically lasts no longer than five minutes.
Amidst this situation, Azruddin Mohamed, leader of the WIN party, is seen as the presumptive Leader of the Opposition, given that his party holds the most seats on the opposition side of the National Assembly. Ramkarran’s concerns signal a pressing need for action to restore proper governance structures in Guyana.
