When Guyana’s 13th Parliament meets for the first time, there will be no swearing in of an Opposition Leader.
This was relayed to Sheriff News Network (SNN) by a well-placed parliamentary source.
The Order Paper for the opening sitting, which will get underway at 14:00 hours, lists just two items: the swearing-in of all Members of Parliament (MPs) and the election of a Speaker and Deputy Speaker.
Notably absent is the election of an Opposition Leader, a process which, under the Constitution, is done by the non-government side of the House at a meeting chaired by the Speaker, who does not take part in the vote.
This means tomorrow’s proceedings will be largely ceremonial and administrative, restricted to formally inducting the 65 MPs and identifying the presiding officers who will guide the business of the National Assembly.
The new Parliament comes in the wake of the September 1, 2025, General and Regional Elections, which saw the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) securing 36 seats.
The We Invest in Nationhood (WIN) party has secured 16 seats, while the People’s National Congress Reform-led A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) Coalition has 12.
The Forward Guyana Movement (FGM) rounds off the opposition benches with one seat.
