PPP/C MPs List

People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) activist and spokesperson Harry Gill is set to replace former Agriculture Minister, Dr Leslie Ramsammy on the Party’s List of Members of Parliament (MPs), while former Head of the National Toshaos Council, Yvonne Pearson will replace former Foreign Affairs Minister Carolyn Rodrigues- Birkett.

Harry Gill

Yvonne Pearson

The PPP/C has won 32 seats in the 65 seat-chamber; however, earlier this week, it released a list of 31 individuals to represent the Party in Parliament.
Among the newcomers on the list are: Africo Selman, Nigel Dharamlall and Collin Croal.

Among those absent from the list is Rodrigues-Birkett, who already gave an explanation for her absence. Her reason for not participating is due to work engagements overseas which will not allow her time to serve as an MP at this time.

Ramsammy was slated to return to represent the PPP/C whenever it decided to participate in Parliament; however, only recently, due to ill health, he withdrew.

“In a communication to the Party, Dr Ramsammy wrote, ‘… After being sick and in bed for two weeks in Guyana, I left last week. I have been in hospital in New York and was discharged subsequently. But given my special situation and my deteriorating health, I have decided that I will not be able to serve with the dedication and commitment necessary for the 11th Parliament. I am sorry that I cannot at this time find it possible to continue the fight as a Member of Parliament’,” a press release from the Party explained.

Following consultations, it was decided that Gill would be the most suitable candidate to replace the former Minister.  Furthermore, the PPP/C decided that Pearson would be the best candidate to replace Rodrigues-Birkett.

Pearson was recently fired from her longstanding position as advisor to the Indigenous People’s Affairs Minister by the A Partnership for National Unity+ Alliance For Change (APNU+AFC) Government.

In light of the dismissal, Rodrigues-Birkett, who is one of the most respected persons in Guyana, registered her disappointment over the irrational firing of the professional.

In a social media post, Rodrigues-Birkett explained that it was expected that a change in Government would automatically result in changes in personnel at certain levels; “however, one would expect that certain persons with unique and valuable expertise would be retained for at least some time”. She also stated that the Ministry was now poorer without Pearson’s wealth of knowledge and experience.

Meanwhile, representing the PPP/C in Parliament are Adrian Anamayah, Dr Frank Anthony, Indranie Chandarpal, Nigel Dharamlall, Juan Edghill, Joseph Hamilton, Dr Clive Jagan, Bharrat Jagdeo, Odinga Lumumba, Ganga Persaud, Dr Vindhya Persaud, Dr Bheri Ramsaran, Charles Ramson Jr, Clement Rohee, Dharamkumar Seeraj, Africo Selman, Pauline Sukhai, Gail Teixeira, Collin Croal, Carnel Damon, Irfaan Ali, Komal Chand, Anil Nandlall, Kumar Neend, Gillian Persaud, Priya Manickchand, Vishwa Mahadeo, Zulfikar Mustapha, Dr Jennifer Westford, and Alister Charlie.