New gov’t to take up 33 seats in National Assembly

THE new People’s Progressive Party Civic (PPP/C) government will enter the 12th Parliament with 33 seats as it moves to take the country forward.
With its 233,336 votes at the March 2 General and Regional Elections, the new PPP/C government will be allocated some 33 seats in the National Assembly.
The A Partnership for National Unity + Alliance For Change (APNU+AFC) with 217,920 votes will have 31 seats while the joinder list of A New United Guyana (ANUG), the Liberty and Justice Party (LJP) and The New Movement (TNM) with 5, 214 votes will be allocated one seat.

Parties are yet to identify their respective parliamentarians that will make up the 65-seat Legislature. The Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) has already requested from the parties, the names of those Members of Parliament. Those submissions are expected soonest.

Meanwhile, President Dr. Mohammed Irfaan Ali said the selection of his cabinet members will be made later this week. With those ministers in place, Dr. Ali said all ministries will also be established.

The president has already made some appointments following his swearing-in on Sunday. They include Prime Minister, Brigadier Mark Phillips, and Vice-President, Bharrat Jagdeo. Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs, Anil Nandlall, was also appointed along with Gail Teixeira as Minister of Parliamentary Affairs and Governance.
Following his swearing-in, Dr. Ali said his government will be for all of Guyana. His administration, he said, will build a country for every Guyanese, noting that there was no need for fear, or distinction based on political persuasion, religious belief or ethnicity.

Meeting with senior officials from the Ministry of the Presidency on Monday, the President said that as his government transitions, there will be changes of approach, new and emerging areas of responsibilities as well as a shift in the plans and programmes of the administration.

“Guyana requires the skills of all of us to work collectively if we are to build a strong and sustainable country, a country that all of us can be proud of,” the Head of State noted.