Shuman raps AFC for unpatriotic utterances

Liberty and Justice Party (LJP) Chairman Lenox Shuman has strongly criticised the Alliance For Change (AFC) for what he calls a reckless and divisive attempt to undermine the government at a time when national unity is crucial.

The AFC, in a recent statement, said that Guyana’s issues and contentions with Venezuela are becoming more serious and complex each week.

The party noted that since the beginning of 2025, citizens have witnessed the vicious attack on a GDF patrol unit in the Cuyuni River in February, as well as the brazen intrusion into Guyana’s waters by a Venezuelan patrol vessel on 1 March.

The AFC then demanded answers from the government, accused it of weak leadership, and levelled other criticisms against it.

In a statement, Shuman said such rhetoric weakens Guyana’s national response as the country faces external threats from Venezuela.

“At a moment when the territorial integrity and sovereignty of our beloved nation are under persistent threat from the Maduro regime, the AFC’s divisive rhetoric stands as an affront to the longstanding Guyanese ethos of common ground, national resolve, and collective defence against external threats,” Shuman stated.

He emphasised that sovereignty is not a partisan issue but the foundation of the nation’s identity, urging all political actors to rally behind the government in defending Guyana’s territorial integrity.

Shuman accused the AFC of engaging in divisive politics, citing its alleged attempts to exploit geographic and ethnic differences and undermine confidence in national institutions. He warned that such actions send mixed signals to international allies and could embolden external aggressors.

Calling for restraint, the LJP urged opposition parties to avoid politicising national security issues and encouraged the public to reject misinformation and hysteria.

Shuman stressed the need for a unified front, supporting the government’s legal efforts at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) to settle the border controversy peacefully.

The defence of Guyana’s sovereignty requires unity, not reckless politicking, Shuman asserted, reaffirming the LJP’s commitment to standing with the government in protecting the nation’s borders.