WIN’s 16-member Parliamentary team could see key ally Mark France missing

We Invest in Nationhood (WIN), the fledgling political force led by sanctioned businessman Azruddin Mohamed, has reportedly named its 16-member parliamentary team, setting the stage for its role as the official opposition in the 13th Parliament.

The list, circulated on Saturday as President Irfaan Ali swore in his 25 ministers to his Cabinet, was not released through WIN’s official channels but instead surfaced on social media — shared by WIN’s General Secretary Odessa Primus and ANUG Chairman Mark France.

Yet, in a twist that raises questions about the young party’s internal dynamics, France’s name is notably absent from the proposed slate.

Dr. Mark France, who in November 2024 was elected Chairman of A New and United Guyana (ANUG), had been a pivotal figure in ANUG’s decision to join forces with WIN for the 2025 elections. As head of ANUG, he championed transparency, accountability and constitutional reform, insisting that WIN’s rise was an opportunity to break the cycle of ethnic politics.

Instead, the party’s parliamentary bench will likely be occupied by a mixture of veteran MPs, defectors from APNU-AFC, and newcomers with thin public records.

Reacting to the news, France congratulated those reportedly selected but delivered a pointed message via Facebook: “You bear a huge responsibility to your supporters and Guyana at large. Do not let my people down. BE THE CHANGE YOU WANT TO SEE.”

At the top of the list is Mohamed himself, who confirmed he will serve as Leader of the Opposition. His position cements WIN’s second-place finish but his leadership is shadowed by ongoing U.S. Treasury sanctions and corruption allegations that he has repeatedly denied.

The optics of a sanctioned businessman becoming Opposition Leader have not gone unnoticed, both at home and abroad, and it places scrutiny on how Parliament and international partners will engage with WIN.

Among the most recognisable names on the proposed parliamentary slate are former APNU-AFC ministers and MPs:

• Dawn Hastings-Williams, ex-Minister of State and a respected Indigenous leader from Region Seven;
• Tabitha Sarabo-Halley, once Minister of Public Service, now seen as one of WIN’s senior frontliners running as Azruddin’s Prime Ministerial Candidate; and
• Natasha Singh-Lewis, another APNU defector who adds parliamentary experience to WIN’s bench.

These high-profile crossovers have given WIN credibility, but they also fuel criticism that Mohamed’s party is less about new politics and more a vehicle for recycling seasoned opposition figures.

Odessa Primus, a comedian-turned-General Secretary, will likely also secure a parliamentary spot. Her transition from entertainment to politics has been colourful, marked by fiery exchanges on the campaign trail. For supporters, her inclusion symbolises a people’s movement. For critics, it blurs the line between politics and performance.

Beyond the heavyweights, WIN’s proposed slate features a number of other figures — from sugar industry executive Vishnu Panday to dentist Dr. Ryan Richards, activist Gobin Harbhajan, and several regional representatives such as Beverly Cornelius and Deon LaCruz. Many have slim public records.

Duarte Hetsberger, once the personal assistant to former Chief Elections Officer Keith Lowenfield, is now a key WIN organizer and will likely be heading to Parliament. Although implicated in investigations surrounding the deletion of GECOM computer data, he resurfaced to lead WIN’s nomination day exercise.

The 16-member list reflects both opportunity and contradiction. On one hand, WIN has drawn in experienced politicians and fresh voices, riding the wave of 109,066 votes cast for a message of change. On the other hand, the absence of Mark France — the face of ANUG’s alliance — raises questions.

This “power team,” as Primus labelled it online, will have to prove that it can become a credible counterweight to government even as some expect it to collapse into personality politics.

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