Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs Anil Nandlall has criticised the conduct of the political opposition, arguing that Guyana’s democracy requires an opposition that focuses more on policies and less on personal attacks.
Nandlall made the remarks during a recent appearance on Starting Point, hosted by Kiana Wilburg and Fareeza Haniff.
The Attorney General accused members of the opposition of increasingly using social media to engage in what he described as abusive and vulgar political exchanges.
“This opposition has brought a level of depravity, a level of vulgarity, a level of vitriol, a level of abuse never seen before in politics,” Nandlall said.
According to him, the parliamentary opposition has an important responsibility as the country’s alternative government and should demonstrate a high standard of leadership.
“You have to talk to the people and show where the government is going wrong at policy levels of an important nature, not engaging in minutiae and ad hominem exchanges,” he said.
Nandlall maintained that a strong opposition remains essential to the democratic process, but argued that the current opposition is falling short of that standard.
“I am a passionate believer that we must have an effective and competent opposition. It is an important component of democracy,” he said.
However, he added: “I say to you with the greatest of respect to my colleagues in the National Assembly that they are not an effective and competent opposition.”
