The People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR) is calling for greater scrutiny of Guyana’s exposure to developments in Trinidad and Tobago’s banking sector, warning that the country’s growing reliance on Republic Bank makes regional financial risks a matter that cannot be overlooked.

PNCR General Secretary Sherwin Benjamin raised the concern against the backdrop of recent executive and board-level changes in Trinidad and Tobago, arguing that Guyanese regulators should assess potential cross-border risks before they develop into a domestic financial problem.

Benjamin pointed to the announced departure of First Citizens Group Financial Holdings CEO Jason Julien, who is scheduled to leave the state-majority-owned institution on August 31, 2026, after nine months and nine days in the position. Julien has said he was “definitely not forced out” and is leaving to take up an opportunity with a US-listed Nasdaq company outside the financial sector.