Breaking News: PPP names Parliamentarians; Ramotar, Birkett, Dr Singh out
PPP Members at a press conference.
[www.inewsguyana.com] – The People’s Progressive Party/Civic has released the list of 32 parliamentarians that will represent the Party in the National Assembly during the life of the 11th parliament with some surprising exclusions.
Immediate past President, Donald Ramotar was excluded from the list as well as Former Foreign Affairs Minister Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett and Former Finance Minister Dr Ashni Singh.
Former Local Government Minister Norman Whittaker and Minister of Human Services and Social Security Jennifer Webster have also been excluded from the list of parliamentarians.
The new faces include Bharrat Jagdeo, who is expected to be the Opposition Leader, along with Nigel Dharamlall, Collin Croal, Zulficar Mustapha and Charles Ramson Jr.
See below the full press statement from the Party.
After a series of consultations at various levels over many weeks, the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) has concluded discussions on its parliamentary representatives. As customary and in-keeping with the Party’s policy, a number of factors were considered such as experience, youth, gender, ethnic composition, geographic-spread among others.
The PPP remains proud of its democratic tradition which allows the various tiers of our Party to make meaningful inputs in the decision-making process.
The PPP wishes to confirm that its decision of the Opposition Leader has been fully endorsed by the Party’s Central Committee. Full disclosure in respect of those parliamentarians who will fill the position of Leader of the Opposition and Chief Whip will take place at the swearing-in of the thirty two (32) PPP Members of Parliament.
The practically completed list of Members of Parliament follows below this statement. It represents a list of persons who have the capabilities of representing all Guyanese more particularly, the over 200,000 persons who voted for the Party. A number of new faces are expected to be heading for the National Assembly with a good blend of youth and experienced Parliamentarians.
However, the Party has not made a decision regarding when these Members of Parliament will take up their seats in Parliament. Consultations are still ongoing.
Meanwhile, Former Foreign Affairs Minister Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett and Former Finance Minister Dr.Ashni Singh who were being considered for Parliament have asked that their unavailability to serve the Party in the 11th Parliament of Guyana be made public to avoid any speculations.
Ms. Rodrigues-Birkett said the following to the Party, “… I have decided to do some work overseas that will take me out of Guyana for extended periods and which will not allow me to do the required work of a Member of Parliament at this time. My new engagement doesn’t take away from my commitment to the Party.’’
Dr.Ashni Singh in his statement said, ‘’…I wish to thank the leadership of the PPP/C for inviting me to take up a seat among its 32 Members of Parliament, and for accommodating my reasons for declining that offer. As I explained, my personal and other commitments would make it difficult for me to discharge the obligations of a PPP/C MP in the manner I would like to at the current time. I remain firmly committed to the PPP/C, and I continue to be available to be of service to the Party in other capacities’’.
