APNU FIRES BACK, THEY ARE NOT TO BE BLAMED FOR WIN NOT BEING ON RDC COMMITTEES

By| Marvin Cato| HGP Nightly News|

GEORGETOWN, GUYANA — The internal rift within Guyana’s opposition deepened on Wednesday, March 4, 2026, as PNCR General Secretary Sherwin Benjamin fired back at the We Invest in Nationhood (WIN) party. Benjamin categorically rejected allegations that APNU was responsible for WIN’s exclusion from regional committees, instead blaming WIN’s “go-it-alone” attitude for handing the PPP/C control of the country’s most populous region.

The dispute centers on the fallout from the Region 4 (Demerara-Mahaica) regional elections, where a fractured opposition failed to capitalize on a clear numerical majority.

The Region 4 “Conundrum”

Benjamin pointed to “simple arithmetic” to illustrate the missed opportunity for the combined opposition in Region 4. Following the regional elections, the seat allocation stood as follows:

• PPP/C: 17 seats
• APNU: 9 seats
• WIN: 8 seats
• FGM: 1 seat

While the PPP/C held the single largest bloc, the combined opposition held 18 seats—enough to secure the Chairmanship. However, due to a lack of coordination, the PPP/C’s Clemsford Belgrave was elected Chairman. Benjamin questioned which party abstained or broke ranks, noting that the failure to act in unison was the root cause of the current “conundrum.”

The Committee Seat Dispute

The General Secretary clarified the process that led to the current composition of the regional committees, where WIN has found itself sidelined.

• The Chief Whip: Following a directive from Chairman Belgrave, the opposition selected Shineka Haynes (APNU) as the Chief Whip.
• Proportionality: Haynes advocated for committee seats to be allotted proportionally. The Chairman subsequently allocated three seats to the PPP/C and two to the combined opposition.
• The “Rejected” Lists: Benjamin revealed that WIN submitted its own independent list of candidates for these committees, which was reportedly rejected by the Chairman. He noted that the Fourth Generation Movement (FGM) eventually advised APNU to submit their own list, which was accepted.

“We Cannot Accept Blame”

Benjamin took particular aim at WIN’s performance in Regions 3, 5, and 6, where WIN secured more votes and seats than APNU.

• Regional Refusal: The PNCR maintains that if WIN officials were left out of committees in those regions, it was due to their own refusal to engage effectively with regional officials or the PPP/C’s refusal to accept their specific lists.
• No APNU Interference: “The records will show that the PPP refused to accept WIN’s list,” Benjamin stated, arguing that APNU cannot be held responsible for the tactical failures or the diplomatic breakdown between WIN and the ruling party.

Opposition Dynamics: Seat Count Comparison

The PNCR’s stance is clear: without a unified opposition strategy, the PPP/C will continue to dominate regional administrations even where they lack a clear mandate.