CABINET on Tuesday approved the appointment of directors and board members of several state agencies, including the Guyana Office for Investment (GO-INVEST), the Income Tax Board, the Dependants Pension Fund, the Institutional Review Board of the Ministry of Finance and the Firearm Licensing Board.

For the period January 1, 2018 to December 31, 2019, Patricia Bacchus will serve as GO-INVEST’s chairperson. Minister of State Joseph Harmon told reporters Friday that other board members include Dr Shamir Ally, Basil Blackman, representatives of the private sector, the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA), Guyana Lands and Surveys Commission, Ministries of Foreign Affairs, Natural Resources, and Public Infrastructure, along with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and a representative of the parliamentary opposition.

The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of GO-INVEST is the ex-officio member of the board. Cabinet also approved the Income Tax Board of Review for the period January 1, 2018 to December 31, 2018. Basil Joseph has been named chairman and his team includes Nigel Hinds, Donna Ellis, Trevor Bowen, and a representative of the parliamentary opposition.
Meanwhile, Jennifer Chapman has been named chairperson of the Dependants Pension Fund for the period January 1, 2018 to December 31, 2018. That board includes veteran trade unionists, Lincoln Lewis, Patrick Yarde, along with Lance Baptiste, Professor Harold Lutchman, Mr Mohan Khan and Gillian Rockliffe.

The Institutional Review Board of the Ministry of Public Health has been appointed to serve from November 1, 2017 to October 31, 2019. That board is chaired by Dr Shamdeo Persaud the Chief Medical Officer (CMO), and includes Dr Holly Alexander of the University of Guyana, Sylvia Conway representative of the Consumer Protection Agency, Asif Suberan a representative of the faith-based organisations, Pauline Welch, representative of the indigenous peoples, Michelle France of the ERC, Dawn Stuart of the Ministry of Public Health as their appointee, Dawn Lyken-Stewart and Michelle Smith.

Bert Sukhai has been appointed chairman of the Firearm Licensing Board from February 1, 2018 to January 31, 2019. His team includes Dr Bhiro Harry, Solicitor-General, Kim Kyte and Christine Jagmohan. Consultations are to be had between the Minister of Public Security and the Minister of Public Health for an additional person to sit on the board from the latter ministry.