HGP Nightly News – Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs Anil Nandlall has weighed in on the impending election of Guyana’s next Leader of the Opposition, offering a sharp warning about what he believes could be the reputational and constitutional consequences of the choice now facing opposition MPs.
Nandlall spoke on Tuesday night, hours after Speaker of the National Assembly Manzoor Nadir announced on live NCN television that the election is scheduled for Monday, January 26. Azruddin Mohamed is expected to be selected, despite being sanctioned and indicted in the United States and currently before the courts in extradition proceedings.
In his comments, Nandlall said the prospect of a U.S.-sanctioned and U.S.-indicted individual becoming Leader of the Opposition would be unprecedented and “deeply damaging,” arguing it would amount to a “grave indictment” of Guyana. He said the impact could extend beyond Guyana to the wider English-speaking Caribbean, and could also reflect on Guyana’s parliamentary system, the Constitution, and potentially the broader Commonwealth.
“We are making history for all the wrong reasons,” he warned. He maintained that the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) has taken a firm position against that outcome, presenting it as a matter of principle grounded in respect for the rule of law.
Nandlall said the PPP/C is “proud” to record its opposition to what he described as a “fugitive offender” being elevated to the post, adding that history would show who stood where on the issue. Nandlall also stressed that the office of Leader of the Opposition carries significant constitutional weight, describing it as akin to an “alternative president,” and cautioned that the country may not yet fully appreciate what the appointment could mean in practice.
He pointed to signals he said were made by the U.S. Ambassador about potential repercussions if such an election proceeds, while underscoring that the government does not elect the Opposition Leader and does not support Mohamed’s elevation.
With the vote now set, Nandlall said those who support the expected nominee will be judged for their position, insisting that the public record will reflect who backed the move and who opposed it.
Despite criticism, he said he remains unapologetic: “I have taken this position for a long time, and I am proud of it,” he stated.
