THE National Assembly, on Monday, moved to fully activate its committee system with the election of chairpersons for eight parliamentary committees, a development that formally advances the oversight and legislative machinery of Guyana’s 13th Parliament.
The elections were convened by Speaker of the National Assembly, Manzoor Nadir, at the Public Buildings on Brickdam, Georgetown, beginning at 10:30 hours in accordance with the Standing Orders of the House. Members participated either in person or virtually, although most attended physically.
The process resulted in the selection of chairpersons for four Parliamentary Standing Committees and four Parliamentary Sectoral Committees, a key step in enabling Parliament’s oversight framework to become fully operational following the nomination of members at the June 5 sitting of the House.
Among the appointments, Opposition MP Vishnu Panday was elected Chair of the Public Accounts Committee (PAC), while Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs, Hon. Mohabir Anil Nandlall, will chair the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Constitutional Reform.
Minister of Parliamentary Affairs and Governance, Gail Teixeira, was elected Chair of the Committee on Appointments, and Prime Minister Brigadier (Ret’d) Mark Anthony Phillips, will head the Parliamentary Oversight Committee on the Security Sector.
In the Parliamentary Sectoral Committees, Opposition Duarte Hetsberger was elected Chair of the Economic Services Committee, while Opposition Odessa Primus will lead the Foreign Relations Committee.
Minister of Human Services and Social Security, Dr Vindhya Persaud was selected to chair the Social Services Committee, and Minister of Natural Resources, Vickram Outar Bharrat, will chair the Natural Resources Committee.
Under parliamentary rules, the Speaker of the National Assembly automatically chairs several key bodies, including the Standing Orders Committee, the Assembly Committee, the Committee of Privileges, and the Statutory Instrument Committee.
The activation of the committees is widely viewed as a critical step in strengthening legislative scrutiny, allowing Members of Parliament to examine government policy implementation, review public expenditure, and consider matters referred by the House.
Speaking previously on the importance of the process, Speaker Nadir had indicated that approximately 10 committees were expected to meet on June 15 to elect chairpersons and advance parliamentary work. He noted that Guyana’s committee structure is among the most extensive in the Commonwealth Caribbean and plays a central role in ensuring accountability and good governance.
According to the Speaker, the activation of the system is intended to “load up the pipeline” for future sittings of the National Assembly by ensuring that bills, motions, questions, and financial papers are first processed through committee review.
With Monday’s elections completed, Parliament’s committee framework now moves into full operation, setting the stage for increased legislative oversight between sittings of the National Assembly.