CHAIRPERSONS to several Parliamentary Committees were appointed, Wednesday evening, in an effort to strengthen the transparency and accountability framework.* Public Accounts Committee (PAC) – this Committee will be chaired by a member from the opposition People’s Progressive Party (PPP). Members include:
– Volda Lawrence – APNU+AFC
– Jermaine Figueira – APNU+AFC
– Valerie Patterson – APNU+AFC
– Charandass Persaud – APNU+AFC
– Audwyn Rutherford – APNU+AFC
– Mohamed Irfaan Ali – PPP (Chairperson)
– Pauline Sukhai – PPP
– Bishop Juan Edghill – PPP
– Nigel Dharamlall – PPP

* Constitution Reform Committee (CRC) – The members are:
– Khemraj Ramjattan – APNU+AFC
– Basil Williams – APNU+AFC (Chairperson)
– Rupert Roopnaraine – APNU+AFC
– Raphael Trotman – APNU+AFC
– Nicolette Henry – APNU+AFC
– Mohabir Anil Nandlall – PPP
– Priya Manickchand – PPP
– Dr. Frank Anthony – PPP
– Adrian Anamayah – PPP

* Committee on Appointments
– Amna Ally – APNU+AFC
– Dr. George Norton – APNU+AFC (Chairperson)
– David Patterson – APNU+AFC
– Catherine Hughes – APNU+AFC
– Annette Ferguson – APNU+AFC
– Gail Teixeira – PPP MP
– Bishop Juan Edghill – PPP MP
– Clive Jagan – PPP MP
– Ganga Persaud – PPP MP

The Parliamentary Sectoral Committees on Natural Resources, Economic Services, Foreign Relations, Social Services and Security also appointed their respective chairpersons and vice chairpersons.
– Joseph Harmon – APNU+AFC
– Ronald Bulkan – APNU+AFC
– Winston Jordan – APNU+AFC (Vice Chairperson)
– Audwyn Rutherford – APNU+AFC
– Jermaine Figueira – APNU+AFC MP (alternate)
– Pauline Sukhai – PPP
– Odinga Lumumba – PPP (Chairperson)
– Neend Kumar – PPP
– Yvonne Pearson – (alternate )

* Economic Services Committee (ESC)
– Carl Greenidge – APNU+AFC
– Noel Holder – APNU+AFC
– Jaipaul Sharma – APNU+AFC (Chairperson)
– Simona Broomes – APNU+AFC
– Jennifer Wade – APNU+AFC (alternate)
– Mohamed Irfaan Ali – PPP (Vice Chairperson)
– Bishop Juan Edghil – PPP
– Komal Chand – PPP
– Colin Croal PPP – (alternate)
* Foreign Relations Committee (FRC)
– Volda Lawrence – APNU+AFC
– Dominic Gaskin – APNU+AFC (Vice Chairperson)
– Nicolette Henry – APNU+AFC
– Hemraj Ramkumar – APNU+AFC MP
– John Adams – APNU+AFC MP (alternate )
– Gail Teixeira – PPP (Chairperson)
– Africo Selman – PPP
– Zulfikar Mustapha – PPP
– Nigel Dharamlall – PPP

* The Social Services Committee – The members include:
– Raphael Trotman – APNU+AFC
– Valerie Garrido-Lowe – APNU+AFC
– Dr. Karen Cummings – APNU+AFC
– John Adams – APNU+AFC (Chairperson)

– Valerie Patterson – APNU+AFC (alternate)
– Dr. Vindhya Persaud – PPP (Vice chairperson)
– Indranie Chandarpal – PPP
– Allister Charlie – PPP
– Dr. Vishwa Mahadeo – PPP

* Security Sector Committee
– Noel Holder – APNU+AFC
– Valerie Garrido Lowe – APNU+AFC
– Khemraj Ramjattan – APNU+AFC (Chairperson)
– Bsail Williams – APNU+AFC
– Hemraj Ramkumar – APNU+AFC
– Clement Rohee – PPP
– Joseph Hamilton – PPP
– Dr. Bheri Ramsaran – PPP
– Harry Gill – PPP

The four sectoral committees: Economic Services, Natural Resources, Social Services and Foreign Relations, were formed pursuant to the constitutional changes of 2001 brought about by the Herdmanston Accord. They are intended to increase the input of the Opposition in governance in real time by having them scrutinise governmental operations in real time, unlike the Public Accounts Committee.
The Chairs of the Committees are split between the Opposition and the Government and are alternated annually. (GINA)