“The Spoils of Power”: Dr. Terrence Campbell Blames Opposition Disunity for Region 10 Leadership Deadlock
By: Marvin Cato | HGP Nightly News|
LINDEN, REGION 10 — Six months after a tied election for the Chairmanship of Region 10 (Upper Demerara–Berbice), the Regional Democratic Council (RDC) remains a ship without a captain. Speaking on the program Oil Talk with host Anand Persaud, APNU Member of Parliament Dr. Terrence Campbell broke his silence on the impasse, revealing that a failed “political deal” between the two major opposition parties is the primary reason the region remains without leadership.
The deadlock, which began with a 9-9 tie during the October 10, 2025, election, has left Region 10 as the only administrative district in Guyana without a fully constituted council.
The Failed Agreement: APNU vs. WIN
Dr. Campbell, speaking from a personal perspective rather than an official party line, disclosed that he was personally involved in trying to broker a pre-election agreement between A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) and We Invest in Nationhood (WIN).
- The Sticking Point: According to Campbell, the negotiations collapsed over the “sharing of the spoils.”
- The Refusal: The MP alleged that WIN refused to offer APNU the Vice Chairmanship position in exchange for supporting a WIN Chairman.
- Political Capital: “I was unsuccessful in bringing about some kind of understanding,” Campbell admitted, noting that he risked his own political standing to prevent the very impasse the region is now suffering through.
A Region in Limbo: 6 Months of Stagnation
The consequences of this political “tug-of-war” are now manifesting in the day-to-day administration of the region.
- No Council Input: Because no Chair or Vice Chair has been elected, the Regional Executive Officer (REO) has taken the unprecedented step of submitting the region’s 2026 Budget without any input or approval from the elected councilors.
- Protests and Legal Threats: WIN’s nominee for the Chairmanship recently concluded three days of protests in front of the REO’s office and has threatened legal action to force a reconvening of the election.
- Ministerial Stance: The Minister of Local Government and Regional Development has maintained that the situation is “out of her hands,” leaving the councilors to resolve the tie themselves.
Democracy Undermined
For Dr. Campbell, the ongoing delay is a direct undermining of democracy in a region that has historically been a bastion of opposition support. As the Irfaan Ali administration enters the final stretch of its current term, pundits are raising concerns that Region 10 may remain leaderless until the next general election. With neither side willing to blink, the residents of Linden and the Berbice River communities are the ones bearing the brunt of a budget drafted in a vacuum.
