A PARTNERSHIP for National Unity (APNU) Member, Mr. Basil Williams was elected Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly yesterday.
His was the only nomination for the post to fill the vacancy left by the resignation of other Member of Parliament (MP) Deborah Backer and the House, unanimously, supported the election of front-bencher Williams.
His nomination was by APNU Chief Whip, Amna Ally and seconded by Dr. Rupert Roopnarine.

Speaker of the House Raphael Trotman welcomed Williams to his new post and said he looks forward to them working together.
Trotman also assured him of support in the execution of his functions.
Williams replaces Backer who was APNU’s Foreign Affairs Shadow Minister.
Leader of the Opposition David Granger and other MP Africo Selman are now expected to share the APNU Foreign Affairs portfolio.
Backer has been absent from the National Assembly proceedings due to a still unconfirmed illness and has had to access medical care outside of Guyana at least twice in the last month.

Early January, she was flown to Florida, in the United States (U.S.), for tests and APNU Leader Granger was reported in the media as expressing his hopes for Backer’s speedy recovery.
The MP was treated at a private hospital in Georgetown when she first fell ill.