Veteran trade unionist and General Secretary of the Guyana Trades Union Congress (GTUC), Lincoln Lewis, has raised concerns that Guyana’s unprecedented oil-driven prosperity could deepen national divisions unless the country’s political leadership embraces the constitutional principles of inclusionary democracy and shared governance.

In his June 14 Eye on Guyana column titled “Half a Nation Cannot Be Shut Out of a Trillion-Dollar Economy,” Lewis argued that while Guyana is enjoying historic economic growth, large sections of the population remain excluded from meaningful participation in decision-making and governance.

“Guyana stands today at a dangerous crossroads,” Lewis wrote. “On one hand, we boast of unprecedented wealth, fuelled by oil revenues and evidenced by a record-breaking G$1.558 trillion national budget in 2026, with promises of a multi-trillion-dollar economy on the horizon. On the other hand, we are witnessing the continued entrenchment of exclusionary politics that shut out large sections of our population from meaningful participation in the affairs of the State.”