POLITICS · GUYANA
Key Facts
- —The country Guyana, on South America’s northern coast, elects its 65-seat National Assembly from closed party lists (Guyana Elections Commission, results declared 6 September 2025).
- —What happened Dr Andre Lewis, an MP for the opposition We Invest in Nationhood (WIN) party, resigned by a letter dated 2 October 2026, effective on receipt (Kaieteur News, Demerara Waves).
- —Who is involved Lewis, Speaker Manzoor Nadir and the Guyana Police Force, which is investigating allegations against him. He was arrested on 30 September and released after questioning (HGPTV, Guyana Inquirer).
- —What it means for you An allegation is not a finding of guilt, and no charge has been reported. Lewis says his resignation is no admission of wrongdoing.
- —Still open The nature of the allegations, whether charges follow and who takes the WIN seat had not been made public as of 3 October 2026.
Guyana WIN MP Dr Andre Lewis has resigned from the National Assembly, the country’s parliament, as police investigate allegations against him. His letter to Speaker Manzoor Nadir is dated Friday 2 October 2026 and took effect on receipt.
Lewis wrote that his departure “should not be construed as an admission of wrongdoing or as a determination of guilt.” Kaieteur News, Demerara Waves, News Source Guyana and the Guyana Chronicle all reported the letter.
What Lewis said in his letter
The former Guyana WIN MP said he acted “in light of allegations that have been made against me” and the inquiry. He called resignation the appropriate course “while the relevant processes are ongoing.”
He added that he remains committed to due process and to letting the authorities complete their work. He also thanked voters and the WIN party for the chance to serve.
The resignation was filed under Article 156(1)(a) of Guyana’s constitution, which covers how members leave the Assembly. The letter itself does not describe the allegations.
Presumption of innocence and the police inquiry
Demerara Waves describes the inquiry as concerning an alleged sexual offence. HGPTV and the Guyana Inquirer reported that Lewis was arrested on the evening of Wednesday 30 September and questioned at Vreed-en-Hoop Police Station before being released.
No charge had been reported by Saturday 3 October, and an allegation is not a finding of guilt.
Guyana’s constitution presumes anyone charged with a criminal offence innocent until proven guilty. The Guyana Police Force had not commented on the probe when the reports appeared on 2 and 3 October.
What the vacancy means for the Assembly
WIN won 16 of 65 seats at the 1 September 2025 election, according to the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM), which runs elections. The governing People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) won 36, a clear majority.
Seats are allocated to parties through closed lists, so the vacancy is filled by WIN rather than by a by-election. Kaieteur News said details of the replacement process are expected to follow.
The loss of one Guyana WIN MP does not touch the government’s majority, and the Assembly can keep sitting. For WIN, a quick replacement would restore its full voting strength in the chamber.
A testing period for the main opposition
WIN was launched in June 2025 and became the main opposition within months, breaking a long pattern of two-party dominance. Its leader, Azruddin Mohamed, was declared Leader of the Opposition in January 2026.
Mohamed faces extradition proceedings over a United States request and was briefly detained twice on 3 September. He was released without charge, as reported in Guyana Opposition Leader Arrested Twice, Then Released.
Despite the departure, WIN remains the largest opposition party in the Assembly. For background on the country’s politics and economy, see Guyana Explained: The Oil Boom, the Politics, the Economy and What to Watch.
What Is Not Yet Known
The exact nature of the allegations, and whether any charge will follow, had not been made public as of 3 October. Police have not said when their investigation might conclude.
WIN has not named a replacement, and no party statement had been reported by Saturday afternoon. Kaieteur News used “investigations” in the plural in its headline but did not say how many inquiries are under way.
Sources: Kaieteur News, 3 October 2026; Demerara Waves, 2 October 2026; News Source Guyana, 2 October 2026; Guyana Chronicle, 3 October 2026; Guyana Inquirer, 2 October 2026; HGPTV, 2 October 2026; Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM), declaration of results, 6 September 2025.
This article was drafted with automated assistance and reviewed before publication. How we use AI · Report an error · Editorial responsibility: Matthias Camenzind, Editor-in-Chief
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