OPPOSITION Members of Parliament serving on both the Foreign Relations Committee and the Economic Services Committee failed to attend a high-level briefing hosted by His Excellency President Dr Irfaan Ali, sparking sharp criticism over parliamentary accountability and commitment to matters of national importance.
The meeting at the Office of the President was arranged through the Speaker of the National Assembly, Hon. Manzoor Nadir, M.P., to update lawmakers on critical foreign affairs and national economic priorities.
Key agenda items included status updates on the International Court of Justice (ICJ) proceedings regarding Guyana’s border security, as well as the Third Country National Agreement between Guyana and the United States.
Addressing reports surrounding the boycott, Speaker Manzoor Nadir issued a formal press release confirming that Opposition Chief Whip Tabitha Sarabo-Halley had written to his office regarding the sessions. While the opposition claimed in media statements that there was “no meaningful response” to their queries, the Speaker clarified that the Parliament Office responded early Monday morning.
According to the Speaker, all inquiries raised by the Opposition Chief Whip were fully addressed prior to the scheduled engagement. Speaker Nadir reminded public officials that under Article 51 of the Constitution, Parliament comprises both the President and the National Assembly, reinforcing the vital role of bipartisan participation in governance.
Despite the outreach, Opposition MPs elected not to attend, leaving the engagement without representation from the minority side. The non-attendance has drawn scrutiny from government officials and observers, who argue that skipping crucial briefings on national security and economic strategy undermines the legislative oversight process and leaves vital national interests unaddressed.
Members of the government who attended the session welcomed the President’s initiative to align executive policy with parliamentary committees and called for continued, transparent engagement moving forward.
