In a televised address on Tuesday night, Speaker of the National Assembly Manzoor Nadir defended his leadership amidst what he termed “violent, vicious, and unprecedented” attacks from We Invest in Nationhood (WIN) leader Azruddin Mohamed and his supporters. Addressing the nation via the National Communications Network (NCN), Nadir detailed personal abuse, false allegations, and intimidation he has faced, including protests outside his home and threats against his family.
“I wish I had been heard before I was maligned by Azruddin Mohamed, an international fugitive offender, and his supporters,” Nadir stated, emphasizing that he has never encountered such attacks in his 45 years of public service, more than 33 years of which have been as an elected official.
He firmly rejected accusations of corruption and sanctions against him and his family, asserting that neither has ever faced indictment from the U.S. or any other authority. Furthermore, he accused Mohamed and other opposition members of spreading falsehoods and harassing parliamentary staff, claiming these actions undermine the dignity of the House.
Nadir also addressed claims from various media outlets and opposition figures that Parliament has been inactive since the 13th Parliament convened on November 3, 2025, labeling such statements as “false and absurd.” He pointed out that Parliament has remained functional, processing over 90 questions and five motions communicated to opposition members.
In his address, Nadir highlighted significant democratic reforms introduced since 1992, including parliamentary committees and constitutional rights commissions, asserting that these changes have bolstered democracy and freedom of expression in Guyana.
Towards the conclusion of his speech, Nadir announced he had instructed the Clerk of the National Assembly to convene a meeting on January 26 for the election of a Leader of the Opposition, ahead of the National Budget presentation. As he made this announcement, supporters of Azruddin Mohamed gathered peacefully outside Nadir’s residence.
Mohamed is anticipated to be elected as Leader of the Opposition, given that his party controls 16 of the 29 non-government seats. However, Nadir expressed concern about presiding over the election of someone he described as an “international fugitive,” stating, “If opposition members of Parliament feel it morally right to elect an international fugitive, then the stain on our Parliament and our country rests solely with them.”
Despite the controversies, Nadir asserted that he would carry out the election process without intimidation, declaring, “I am not going to be intimidated by any backyard or front-yard bully.”
