‘Fragmented and weak’ – Ashni Singh takes Terrence Campbell, Azruddin Mohamed to task on Budget 2026 

Deeming the combined political opposition both weak and fragmented, Finance Minister Dr Ashni Singh criticised the weak contributions from the parties’ political leaders during the budget debate.

Addressing both the A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) and the We Invest in Nationhood (WIN) parties, Dr Singh said, “They are fragmented, and they are weaker than any opposition that we have seen in living memory.”

“These are the people who want to present themselves as an alternative government, incapable of working together even on simple matters.”

In his three-hour budget debate contribution, the Finance Minister first zeroed in on Terrence Campbell, who leads the 12 APNU Parliamentarians in the National Assembly.

Dr. Singh highlighted that the People’s National Congress (PNC), the major constituent of APNU, had been reduced to a group of backbenchers in the House. Of particular note, he said, was the party’s inability to secure shadow portfolios, thereby consigning itself to a secondary opposition role behind the newly-formed WIN.

He further accused Campbell of further relegating the PNC into a “dustbin of political irrelevance” with the contributions made during the budget debate.

A major criticism of Campbell and the APNU team centred on the aspersions they cast on private sector bodies that supported the 2026 budget. According to the Finance Minister, Campbell failed to recognise that the budget was crafted following wide-ranging consultations with key stakeholders, including the private sector, and warranted commendation for its responsiveness. For Dr. Singh, such consultations and responsive policymaking are crucial to good governance.

Then came more direct criticisms of WIN’s Azruddin Mohamed.

The Finance Minister referenced the story of the infamous Pablo Escobar, urging Guyanese not to rally behind individuals capable of misleading them. Through the reference, Dr. Singh alluded to the controversy surrounding Opposition Leader Azruddin Mohamed, who the United States has sanctioned, and is facing extradition.

Moving beyond allusion to Mohamed’s controversy, the Finance Minister urged Guyanese to reject efforts he said were aimed at drawing them into the Opposition Leader’s attempt to avoid persecution.

“We, sir, are at an extremely important juncture in our country’s history, and sir, just like in the case of Pablo, tragically, it is the most vulnerable who are being exploited in pursuit of a very narrow, personal effort to save oneself,” Dr Singh told House Speaker Manzoor Nadir.