After months of public pressure to reconvene the country’s 65-seat National Assembly, which had not held a formal sitting for roughly 110 days, the Guyanese government confirmed on Thursday that the legislative body will return to session on June 5. The announcement was made via a social media statement from Minister of Parliamentary Affairs and Governance Gail Teixeira, who offered no formal explanation for the extended gap between parliamentary sittings.
The confirmation comes amid growing cross-sector criticism of the prolonged adjournment, including recent public comments from members of Guyana’s diplomatic community that questioned the absence of legislative activity. Teixeira pushed back against these public remarks, noting that it was regrettable that foreign ambassadors, embassies and high commissions opted to share their concerns publicly rather than first reaching out to the governing party to request clarity on the parliamentary schedule.
According to the minister, if diplomatic representatives had pursued direct consultation with the government ahead of making public statements, they would have already learned that a June 5 sitting had been finalized long before their comments. Teixeira emphasized that Guyana remains committed to maintaining its close, constructive friendships and partnerships with the global diplomatic community. However, she underscored that engagement on domestic matters tied to the country’s legislative agenda and parliamentary operations must follow appropriate, respectful protocols.
The minister made clear that the government hopes unprompted public commentary from diplomatic missions on internal parliamentary affairs does not become a standard practice going forward. She added that the administration expects future discussions related to parliamentary business will be conducted through more in-depth, mutually respectful channels that align with Guyana’s sovereign processes.
The government’s announcement also came just 24 hours after a small opposition political grouping, the Forward Guyana Movement, submitted a formal petition decrying the extended absence of parliamentary sittings. In the petition, the opposition group argued that the prolonged halt to legislative operations was actively eroding core democratic principles in Guyana, including government transparency, accountability to the public, and freedom of expression. The move from the opposition added to growing domestic pressure on the administration to set a firm date for the reconvening of the National Assembly.