–  Dr. Ashni Singh is acting PM
MINISTER of Public Service, Dr. Jennifer Westford, is acting President of Guyana, in the absence of President Bharrat Jagdeo, while Minister of Finance Dr. Ashni Singh has assumed the role as Prime Minister. This was announced by Head of the Presidential Secretariat Dr. Roger Luncheon, who spoke at his usual post-Cabinet press briefing, yesterday.

Both the President and the Prime Minister are out of the jurisdiction. The President left Guyana on Tuesday to attend the funeral of Barbados Prime Minister David Thompson, who died of cancer two Saturdays ago. Prime Minister Samuel Hinds is on leave and is in the United States.

Minister Westford will be away from today’s sitting of the National Assembly, while Minister Singh will be the Leader of the House, being the acting Prime Minister.

In the recent past, Minister of Home Affairs Mr. Clement Rohee was conferred the acting Presidency while Minister of Transport and Hydraulics Mr. Robeson Benn acted as Prime Minister.

Dr. Luncheon explained that the President has the discretion to choose who he wants to act in his absence.