–  Luncheon
– APNU, AFC support Deborah Backer as House Speaker
A PARTNERSHIP for National Unity (APNU) and the Alliance for Change (AFC) have both expressed support for the appointment of APNU member, Mrs. Deborah Backer, as Speaker of the National Assembly. But Head of the Presidential Secretariat (HPS), Dr. Roger Luncheon said, at his post-Cabinet media briefing yesterday, that a resolution on such an appointment will be one of the outcomes of tripartite engagements of the major political parties.
Declining to comment further on the matter, he expressed the opinion that the political stakeholders hold a conviction that the Guyanese people deserve better and, as such, will work toward meeting their obligations to the nation.
Further, the HPS said, while the current composition of the National Assembly is indicative of possible challenges, the conviction held by political parties is likely to influence a move away from the possibility of snap elections.
The People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) won 48.6 percent of the votes, securing 32 seats in the House, APNU got 40.8 per cent and 26 seats and the AFC, with 10.3 percent, seven seats.
The United Force (TUF) only mustered a 0.2 percent but no seats as Members of Parliament (MPs).

FIRST PRIORITY
The HPS stated that, as it relates to the operation of Parliament, the first priority will be to have the 10th session convened.
Afterwards, he said the Head of State has resolved to start implementing the promises made to the Guyanese people during the PPP/C campaign, which are outlined in its manifesto.
Luncheon said the National Assembly is the forum for the advancement of developmental policies and programmes that will bring benefits and improve the lives of the Guyanese people.
He maintained that President Donald Ramotar’s inclination is open stakeholder engagement, pointing to the fact that, during this week, the President has met with APNU, the AFC and TUF.
Luncheon announced that other engagements are planned in the interest of moving Guyana forward.
To date, only the PPP/C and the AFC have submitted names from their Nomination Lists of Candidates to sit in the National Assembly.
Meanwhile, PPP/C Executive Member, Mr. Ralph Ramkarran, speaking of his experience as former Speaker, explained that there are many possibilities leading up to the resumption of Parliament sittings.
He told the Guyana Chronicle, in a previous interview, that PPP/C has different choices, either form a minority government or an alliance with one of the other major parties to gain the majority in the Assembly.
Ramkarran pointed out that an alliance, to govern Guyana, can also be formed by all three of the major parties.