Should Guyana’s proposed Development Bank be governed solely by technical experts appointed by the government, or should its oversight structure reflect the country’s political and social diversity?

That question is at the centre of a growing debate over the proposed Guyana Development Bank Bill, with Vigilant Political Action Committee (VPAC) Leader Dorwain Bess and financial analyst Joel Bhagwandin offering contrasting views on how one of the country’s most significant future financial institutions should be governed.

While Bhagwandin argues there is no need for opposition, civil society or private sector representatives on the bank’s Board of Directors, Bess contends that excluding those voices risks creating an institution that lacks broad public confidence in a country where political support remains deeply divided.