–as President convenes meeting with Parliamentary Economic Services Committee

PRESIDENT Dr Irfaan Ali on Wednesday met with members of the Parliamentary Sectoral Committee on Economic Services at State House as part of efforts to strengthen coordination between the Executive and the legislative arm on matters affecting Guyana’s economic development.
During the engagement, the President briefed committee members on key economic matters considered critical to the Government’s plans and strategies for navigating an increasingly challenging global environment.
The meeting forms part of a broader initiative by the Administration to deepen its engagement with parliamentary committees and provide lawmakers with updates on major areas of national policy and development.
According to the President, all members of the committee were invited through Speaker of the National Assembly Manzoor Nadir to participate in the discussions on matters of national importance. However, members of the Parliamentary Opposition did not attend the session.
The meeting comes against the backdrop of a series of engagements between the President and parliamentary committees. On Tuesday, President Ali also met with members of the Parliamentary Sub-Committee on Foreign Relations, where discussions focused on key foreign-policy matters, including the International Court of Justice proceedings concerning Guyana’s border and the Third Country National Agreement with the United States.
The Speaker subsequently confirmed that Opposition members serving on both the Foreign Relations Committee and the Economic Services Committee had not attended the presidential briefings. He said correspondence from Opposition Chief Whip Tabitha Sarabo-Halley concerning the engagements had been received and that the Parliament Office had responded to the issues raised before the meetings.
The Economic Services Committee is among the parliamentary mechanisms through which lawmakers examine matters relating to the country’s economic and developmental affairs. Engagement between the Executive and such committees provides an avenue for lawmakers to receive information directly on Government policy and programmes while carrying out their parliamentary responsibilities.
The Government has also been reporting continued expansion in areas including construction, agriculture, mining and employment, while emphasising the need to manage the opportunities and challenges associated with Guyana’s rapidly changing economy.
President Ali said the Government remains committed to engaging all parliamentary committees in an open, transparent and accountable manner, signalling that further engagements are expected as the Administration seeks to strengthen coordination between the Executive and Parliament on matters of national importance.