By Antonio Dey| HGP Nightly News|
GEORGETOWN, GUYANA — Dr. Vishnu Panday, representing the main Opposition party, We Invest In Nationhood (WIN), was elected Chairman of the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) on Monday following a convened meeting of the National Assembly.
The key appointment was confirmed by fellow PAC member and Opposition Member of Parliament Ganesh Mahipaul during an exclusive interview with HGP Nightly News. Mahipaul, who also serves as a Member of Parliament for A Partnership for National Unity (APNU), noted that the election was part of the standard operating procedures observed at the commencement of any new Parliament.
“This morning it was standard operations as is in any new parliament where we had to meet to elect chairpersons of the respective committees of the parliament that is not chaired by the Speaker,” Mahipaul stated.
He reminded that under standard parliamentary protocol, the Speaker of the National Assembly is responsible for calling the first meetings of the various parliamentary committees to order solely for the purpose of electing their respective heads. According to Mahipaul, the selection of leadership proceeded seamlessly without any institutional complications.
“It just requires nominating someone, seconding that person and for the respective committees we had done so… and all the committees now have their respective chairpersons,” Mahipaul told Nightly News.
Mahipaul highlighted that under the Standing Orders of the Parliament of Guyana, the Chairperson of the Public Accounts Committee must be selected from the main Opposition benches. This rule aligns with the long-standing democratic traditions of Westminster parliamentary systems to ensure independent oversight of state expenditures.
The session also finalized leadership positions across several crucial Sectoral and Standalone Committees, fully constituting the legislative oversight arms of the house. The responsibility now shifts to the newly selected chairs to call subsequent operational meetings and advance their committee agendas.
The roster of newly elected parliamentary committee chairpersons includes:
- Constitutional Reform Committee: Attorney General Mohabir Anil Nandlall, SC
- Committee on Appointments: Gail Teixeira
- Security Sector Committee: Prime Minister Mark Phillips
- Economic Services Committee: Duarte Hetsberger
- Social Services Committee: Dr. Vindhya Persaud
- Foreign Relations Committee: Odessa Primus
- Natural Resources Committee: Minister Vickram Bharrat
Meanwhile, the Committee of Privileges, the Parliamentary Management Committee, and the Committee of Selection will continue to operate under the direct chairmanship of the Speaker of the National Assembly.
