Speaker sets December 28 for convening of committees

Speaker of the National Assembly Manzoor Nadir has set December 28 for the first meeting of all Standing Committees of the House.
Nadir told the 14th Sitting of the Assembly today that his office considers every meeting of every committee important and was committed to facilitating the sustained participation of every member before the first meeting was convened. Consequently several of the six parliamentarians who are in remote areas can now join meetings from their homes.
“The National Assembly has taken steps to ensure our members can participate and represent their constituents at every meeting…a contract has been signed with a provider and several members will be able to participate directly from their homes because the people of Guyana will be providing them with internet access,” he announced.
This announcement was made minutes after Nadir disallowed an Opposition motion which sought to have Committee meetings convened as a matter of urgent public importance.
“While this is important I did not see it as urgent therefore I am disallowing the request,” the Speaker said.
Nadir further stated  that with COVID-19 ravaging the world and with no clear idea how long the pandemic will continue, he tasked the Clerk with putting in place mechanisms to accommodate participation no matter the location so that if a particular community is in lockdown its representatives can still be accommodated.
He had previously told reporters that his office was “working hard” to convene the first meetings of the various Parliamentary Committees including the PAC.
Responding to questions following the handing over of the 2019 Auditor General’s Report, Nadir said that his office was facing “some” challenges in convening the first meetings and priority is being placed on having all members present.
These challenges and the resulting delay had been criticised by the Opposition APNU+AFC which had repeatedly called for meetings, particularly of the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) to be convened.
In a letter dated December 21, the PAC’s designated Chair, David Patterson told the Speaker that he “notes with disappointment, that no notice for the convening of the PAC has been issued”.
He drew attention to the fact that he has been lobbying for a meeting via correspondence dated November 18 and 25 as well as December 1, 10 and 18 without luck.
Reached for a response to the date announced by Nadir, Patterson said he had not received an official notice but was happy and hopeful.
“We will be pleased if this date is kept but this is not the first set of dates the Speaker has provided. He had provided December 7th  and 8th but there was no meeting then. We are hopeful and happy with this new date,” he said.