By Antonio Dey | HGP Nightly News |
Senior Counsel and former Speaker of the National Assembly, Ralph Ramkarran, has raised concerns about the continued delay in appointing Guyana’s Leader of the Opposition, questioning whether the Executive may be complicit in the prolonged absence of this key constitutional office.
In a letter to the press, Ramkarran cited Article 184(1) of the Constitution, which clearly outlines the process for appointing the Leader of the Opposition. The provision states that the Leader must be elected by non-governmental members of the National Assembly at a meeting convened by the Speaker.
Ramkarran noted that this system was introduced following recommendations from the Constitution Reform Commission and was formally adopted in 2000. The reform, he explained, was specifically designed to remove the President from any role in the appointment process, thereby strengthening parliamentary independence and democratic balance.
According to the Senior Counsel, the prolonged delay in convening a meeting to elect the Opposition Leader now raises serious questions about the Executive’s role and possible complicity, particularly given the importance of the office to the functioning of the state.
The absence of an officially appointed Opposition Leader, Ramkarran warned, has already begun to affect governance. He pointed out that consultations required for several key constitutional and statutory appointments cannot lawfully take place without an Opposition Leader in office, underscoring the urgency of resolving the issue.
Historically, Ramkarran explained, countries such as Jamaica, Trinidad and Tobago, and Barbados once operated under systems where the Leader of the Opposition was appointed by the President. Guyana moved away from that model with the 2000 constitutional amendments, after which the process functioned smoothly and without controversy following elections.
He reminded that General and Regional Elections were held on September 1, 2025, and the 13th Parliament convened on November 3, 2025, at which time Mansoor Nadir was elected Speaker of the National Assembly. However, to date, no meeting has been convened to facilitate the election of the Leader of the Opposition.
While the public is widely aware of the likely candidate for the post, Ramkarran said the Speaker’s absence and inaction have created uncertainty over when the constitutional requirement will be fulfilled.
The issue has gained further attention following comments by the General Secretary of the People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR), Sherwin Benjamin, who recently suggested that the combined parliamentary opposition may pursue legal action if the Speaker fails to discharge this constitutional duty.
However, legal commentators, including attorneys Christopher Ram and Johnathan Subrian, have urged caution, advising the opposition to carefully weigh the legal ramifications before proceeding with court action, particularly given the judiciary’s traditional reluctance to intervene in internal parliamentary matters.
As the delay persists, calls are growing for clarity, accountability, and swift action to restore full constitutional functionality to Guyana’s parliamentary system.
