The Committee of Selection of the National Assembly met yesterday and in attendance were Speaker of the National Assembly, Mr. Ralph Ramkarran and Deputy Speaker, Ms. Clarissa Riehl.

Also in attendance from the Government side were Parliamentary Affairs Minister, Mr. Reepu Daman Persaud; Education Minister, Dr. Henry Jeffrey; Minister of Culture, Youth and Sports, Ms. Gail Teixeira; Government Chief Whip, Mr. Feroze Mohamed; while from the Parliamentary Opposition were People’s National Congress Reform (PNC/R) Chief Whip, Mr. Lance Carberry; Mr. Vincent Alexander and Ms. Shiela Holder.

A statement issued through the Government Information Agency (GINA) after the meeting said the following Members were nominated to the Standing Committee of the National Assembly to address matters relating to the appointment of Members of Commissions pursuant to article 119(c) of the Constitution:

From the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) -

** Mr. Clinton Collymore, Minister in the Ministry of Local Government and Regional Development
** Mr. Navin Chandarpal, Minister of Agriculture
** Ms. Gail Teixeira, Minister of Culture, Youth and Sport
** Dr. Leslie Ramsammy, Minister of Health
** Mr. Anthony Xavier, Minister of Transport and Hydraulics.
** Ms. Jennifer Westford, Public Service Minister

From the PNC/R -
** Mr. Vincent Alexander, MP
** Mr. Deryck Bernard, MP
** Mr. James McAllister, MP
** Ms. Clarissa Riehl, MP and Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly.

From the Working People’s Alliance/Guyana Action Party (WPA/GAP) -
** Ms. Sheila Holder, MP.

President Bharrat Jagdeo had instructed the Minister of Parliamentary Affairs to take necessary steps so that Parliament can perform its role in appointing those categories of members of the service commissions that are appointed by Parliament.

According to Head of the Presidential Secretariat, Dr. Roger Luncheon, the President had “disclosed his extreme concerns about the failure so far also to appoint the Leader of the Opposition, that was, of course in addition to failure to reconstitute the constitutional bodies”.

He said the President’s concerns led to instructions being given for the PPP/C to meet and to select their members to sit on the Parliamentary Committee when it is appointed (which was yesterday).

This Committee is tasked among other things to do all things necessary to select and appoint members to the constitutional bodies, the service commissions, the rights commissions and such like.

In addition, Dr. Luncheon told his post Cabinet news conference earlier this week that on March 24 this year the President wrote to the Leader of the PNC/R, Mr. Robert Corbin and the leaders of the other parliamentary parties informing them of his intention to make initial steps in appointing certain categories of members of these constitutional Commissions, until such time a Leader of the Opposition is elected.

According to the Office of the President “the business of the State cannot be indefinitely put on hold. Vital services and key appointments cannot be put off for a longer time. We have given the main opposition party ample time to step forward and play its role as mandated by the constitution. We have repeatedly sought their urgent participation and support for the processes involved.”

The reformed Constitution provides for one category of nominees to be approved by Parliament; the second category deals with appointments after consultation with the Leader of the Opposition; the third category are appointees based on the office they hold and the fourth category are appointees made through the discretion of the President.

The Office of the President said the PNC/R’s abandonment of Parliament and the failure to appoint a Leader of the Opposition have prevented those categories which require consultation with the Opposition Leader from being appointed.

This has affected the delivery of goods and services significantly and equally significant have been the disadvantage borne out by public servants, teachers, law enforcement officers and the judiciary, the Office of the President stated.

According to Article 184 (1) of the Constitution: “The Leader of the Opposition shall be elected by and from among the non-governmental members of the National Assembly at a meeting held under the Chairmanship of the Speaker of the National Assembly who shall have no right to vote.”