By Travis Chase | HGP Nightly News |
A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) has indicated it is open to resetting relations and working with the We Invest in Nationhood (WIN) party following the election of Azruddin Mohamed as Leader of the Opposition, despite APNU’s decision to abstain from the vote and walk out of the meeting of opposition Members of Parliament.
APNU’s Parliamentary Leader, Dr. Terrence Campbell, speaking on Monday, said his party hopes for improved collaboration with WIN on parliamentary and opposition matters going forward. He acknowledged that relations between the two sides have been strained but described APNU’s posture as a signal of openness to a fresh start.
Campbell explained that APNU chose not to nominate a candidate for the post and subsequently exited the meeting once it became clear that Mohamed was the sole nominee. He defended the move by noting that, in APNU’s view, a vote was unnecessary where only one nomination existed, adding that party members also had preparations to make for the upcoming national budget presentation.
In contrast, Forward Guyana Movement Member of Parliament Amanza Walton-Desir said she remained in the meeting and cast her vote in accordance with her constitutional responsibilities. Walton-Desir emphasised that once a candidate meets the legal and constitutional requirements to contest, the outcome of the process must be respected.
Guyana’s 13th Parliament was convened in early November following the General and Regional Elections held in September. However, the election of a substantive Opposition Leader did not take place until more than three months later, after the Speaker formally called an opposition meeting.
With the Opposition Leader now in place, attention has shifted to whether calls for cooperation across the opposition benches will translate into coordinated, unified action in the National Assembly.
