ON the margins of the 152nd Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) Assembly, a bilateral meeting was held Tuesday, April 14, 2026, in Istanbul, Türkiye, bringing together representatives of the Parliament of Guyana and the Grand National Assembly of Türkiye to advance parliamentary cooperation and democratic engagement.
According to a press release from the local Parliament Office, the Speaker of the Grand National Assembly of Türkiye, Dr. Numan Kurtulmuş, welcomed the Guyanese delegation and highlighted that this year’s Assembly has attracted record-level participation, with 157 delegations, including an unprecedented number of speakers and members of parliament.
He expressed optimism for fruitful discussions and emphasised the growing importance of parliamentary diplomacy in strengthening democratic institutions globally.
Speaker Kurtulmuş underscored that the engagement marks the beginning of closer parliamentary relations between Türkiye and Guyana, expressing hope for sustained collaboration.
He further noted his appreciation for Guyana’s participation in discussions concerning Palestine, commending the country’s principled and supportive stance. He affirmed that the Turkish Parliament, with its strong institutional capacity and experience, stands ready to support the Parliament of Guyana through capacity-building initiatives.
Leading the Guyanese delegation, Speaker of the National Assembly, Manzoor Nadir, highlighted Guyana’s active role in regional and international parliamentary bodies, including the Group of Latin American and Caribbean Countries (GRULAC). He expressed Guyana’s strong interest in fostering a closer institutional relationship with the Turkish Parliament.
Speaker Nadir also reaffirmed Guyana’s willingness to support initiatives within the Inter-Parliamentary Union framework, which Türkiye may champion, and emphasised the country’s leadership role within the Caribbean, particularly through the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), whose Secretariat is headquartered in Guyana.
He noted Guyana’s efforts to encourage greater participation of Caribbean nations, including Jamaica, The Bahamas, Suriname, and Trinidad and Tobago, in IPU processes.
Also in attendance from the Parliament of Guyana were Dr. Vindhya Persaud, Minister of Human Services and Social Security; Warren Kwame McCoy, Minister within the Office of the Prime Minister; and Dr. Carlleta Charles, Parliamentary Executive Officer.
Minister Persaud expressed appreciation for Türkiye’s hospitality and commended the platform for facilitating the exchange of best practices to advance democracy.
Minister McCoy shared similar sentiments and highlighted Guyana’s commitment to promoting democracy, peace, and stability through strengthened parliamentary engagement.
The meeting concluded on a shared note of optimism, with Speaker Nadir reinforcing that meaningful cooperation is built through direct engagement, noting that people must meet people to advance collaboration. Speaker Kurtulmuş concurred, reaffirming the importance of sustained dialogue in deepening bilateral and multilateral partnerships.
In attendance from Turkiye were Ali Özkaya – M.P.; Fatma Öncü – M.P.; and Ahmet Aydın Dogan – Ambassador, Head of Foreign Relations and Protocol of GNAT. The 152nd Assembly of the IPU is being held in Istanbul, Türkiye, from April 15 to 19, 2026.