Guyana’s political opposition has launched fierce criticism against President Irfaan Ali for unveiling his administration’s five-year policy agenda outside the traditional parliamentary framework. The move, occurring on December 17, 2025, has sparked concerns about democratic erosion and institutional bypass.
Forward Guyana Movement Leader Amanza Walton-Desir challenged the diplomatic community’s apparent acquiescence to this departure from established parliamentary practice. She emphasized that the address conventionally belongs within parliamentary proceedings, properly recorded in official Hansard records regardless of opposition participation.
The controversy unfolds against a backdrop of parliamentary paralysis, with the legislature currently lacking an officially recognized opposition leader. This institutional vacuum has complicated constitutional norms and raised questions about democratic safeguards.
APNU Parliamentarian Sherod Duncan characterized the external announcement as a ‘democratic red flag,’ noting the symbolic significance of the President choosing to present his vision outside the Arthur Chung Conference Centre rather than within the parliamentary chamber. Duncan interpreted this as a deliberate avoidance of legislative scrutiny and a troubling treatment of democratic institutions as optional.
Central to the controversy is the status of Azruddin Mohamed, whose potential election as opposition leader remains pending. Mohamed and his father face extradition proceedings to the United States for alleged financial crimes, creating additional complications for Guyana’s political landscape.
Both opposition figures emphasized that the exclusion of elected representatives from a supposedly national agenda presentation demonstrates intentional marginalization rather than accidental oversight. They pledged to subject the government’s plan to rigorous parliamentary examination through appropriate channels.
The opposition leaders called for renewed commitment to transparent governance, open debate, and democratic accountability, insisting that Guyana’s future should be shaped through inclusive processes rather than unilateral announcements outside locked parliamentary doors.