—Monday meetings set to elect chairpersons
THE parliamentary committee system is now fully in motion following the nomination of members to the National Assembly’s committees. Speaker of the National Assembly Manzoor Nadir announced that meetings have been scheduled for Monday, June 15, to elect chairpersons and advance the legislative agenda.
Speaking during a recent interview on the National Communications Network (NCN), Nadir described the development as a significant step in the work of the 13th Parliament and a key part of the country’s parliamentary democracy.
“On Monday, the Speaker has to convene the first meeting of most of the committees which he doesn’t chair, so a chairperson could be elected,” Nadir explained.
He noted that approximately 10 committees are expected to meet to elect their leadership.
“So, on Monday, we have scheduled the meetings to elect the chairperson. I think it might be about 10 committees which the Speaker doesn’t chair. He elects those chairpersons,” he added.
The Speaker stressed that the committee appointments made after the June 5 sitting of the National Assembly were crucial to ensuring Parliament’s work continues beyond plenary sittings.
Nadir stated, “What we saw on Friday (June 5) was very, very significant in this dynamic process of parliamentary democracy.” According to him, the committee structure is a distinctive feature of Guyana’s parliamentary system.
“Our Parliament has 14 committees, and it’s unique in the Caribbean — the Commonwealth Caribbean — very unique,” he said.
Among the committees are standing committees responsible for oversight of economic services, foreign relations, social services and the security sector, as well as the Public Accounts Committee, which examines government expenditure.
Nadir disclosed that after the fourth sitting of Parliament on June 5, a meeting was held to nominate members to the remaining 13 parliamentary committees.
“After the plenary session or the fourth sitting of Parliament, a meeting was convened to nominate the members of the remaining 13 committees of Parliament,” he explained.
The Speaker indicated that the committee meetings scheduled for Monday will help prepare the ground for future sittings of the National Assembly and the consideration of new legislation and parliamentary business.
“The pipeline for sittings has been loaded,” Nadir declared.
He explained that the parliamentary system is now positioned to deal with a range of matters, including questions to ministers, bills and financial papers.
Nadir indicated that the next sitting of the National Assembly is expected to address a number of pending matters, including responses to parliamentary questions, the second reading of bills and the possible consideration of the Supplementary Financial Paper tabled by the Senior Minister in the Office of the President with Responsibility for Finance, Dr Ashni Singh.
Nadir added that the coming weeks are expected to see a steady flow of parliamentary business.
He noted: “We will have this ongoing process now where not only more questions will come, but more bills will come for first reading, more motions will migrate, including opposition motions, will migrate onto the Order Paper.”
The Speaker also used the interview to reject claims that Parliament has been inactive between sittings, arguing that committee work, scrutiny of reports and the processing of parliamentary questions continue throughout the year.
Nadir maintained that parliamentary work has continued steadily since the convening of the 13th Parliament, revealing that more than 400 questions have been submitted by Members of Parliament, with over 150 qualifying for inclusion on the Order Paper after review.
He emphasised that the activation of the committee system marks another important stage in ensuring Parliament remains prepared to process legislation, scrutinise government actions and represent the concerns of citizens.
“To get that first business sitting moving forward outside of the budget, you have to load up the pipeline,” Nadir said.
