Source document: https://docs-lawep.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/1698068326989.pdf (Guyana)
Ti E PARLIAMENT ARY DEBATES OFFICIAL REPORT [VOLUME lJ.

PROCEEDINGS·AND DEBATES OF THE FIRST SESSION OF THE FIRST LEGISLATURE CONSTITUTED UNDER THE BRITISH GUIANA (CONSTITUTION) ORDER IN COUNCIL, 1961 1st Sitting Thursday, 1961 5th October, SENATE The Honourable Senate met at 2 p.m., pursuant ro the proclamation of His Excellency the Governor dated 28th Septen:ber, 1961.
The Clerk: The hour being two o'clock, I will commence the proceedings the Governor's Proclamation a;ppointing the date and hour of the first by reading session of this Senate.

BRITISH GUIANA PROCLAMATION By His Excellency SIR RALPH FRANCIS 0 R. F. A. GREY, GOVERNOR.

.
.

Michael ed Order of Saint Knight Com­ ALNWICK GREY, Knight Commander of the Most Distinguish and Saint George, mander in the Royal Victorian Order of the Officer British and Com­ mander-in-Chief of British same, of the Most Excellent Empire, Governor in and over the Colony Vice-Admiral Guiana, Order, of the etc., etc., etc.
WHEREAS it is provided Order in Guiana (Constitution) Senate and the Legislative appointed aate; by sub ection (2) of section Co cil, 1961, that the first session 10 of the British Assembly shall begin within three months ,1fter of the the 3 Proolamation 5TH OCTOBER, 1961 Roll of Members 4 AND WHEREAS such date was proclaimed to be the 18th day of July, 1961; C. AND WHEREAS it is provided Guiana that, subject by para_gaph (1) of article 78 of the <::on­ to the provisions of the said Constitution, of the chambers of the Legislature shall be held in such places and at such times as the Governor may appoint by proclamation in the Gazette, but that the sessions of the two chambers shall com­ of British stitution the sessions shall commence published mence on the same date: NOW THEREFORE, in pursuance of the said provisions, I do hereby pro­ of the Legislative claim that a session Chamber at the Public Buildings, m the forenoon, of the Senate Georgetown, and shall commence fifth day of October, 1961. on Thursday, the fifth day of October, Chamber shall be held in the Legislative in the afternoon at 2 o'clock Assembly Georgetown, 1961, and that a session at the Public Buildings, on Thursday, the shall be held in the Legislative and shall commence at 9 o'clock Given under my Hand and the Public Seal of the Colony at Government ish Guiana, 1961, and in the tenth year of Her Majesty's Reign.
House, Brit• this 28th day of September, GOD SA VE THE QUEEN.

.

.

.

By His Excellency's Command, A.

A. ABRAHAM, Secretary to the Office of the Governor.

ROLL .

OF MEMBERS The Clerk : I will now call the roll of persons elected at the Gener-al Elec­ tions.

This will be done in the order in which the endomed under Section 44 (1) of the Representation Members please respond as their names are called.

of the People Writs were returned Ordinance, 1957.

Will PRESENT People's Party.


Progressive Ministers Dr. the Hon.

C. B. Jagan Hon.

B. H. Benn Hon.

Ram Karran Hon.
B. S. Rai - Premier and Minister of Development (Member for Corentyne and Planning -East) - Minister of Natural for Demerara Resources Coast-West) (Member - Minister of Works and Hydrauliics (Member for Mahaica) - Minis_ter of Home Affairs (Member for Demerara Coast-East) s Election of 5TH OCTOBER, 1961 President 6 ELECTION OF PRESIDENT The Clerk: Senators, your first is to elect your Presi­ duty at this sitting dent in terms of Article Constitution and Standing which sets out the method for such elec­ tion.
I will therefore Article Order No.

2.: of the Constitution read the reilevant and Standing 52 of the Order No.

2 the duly elected President the Mover and requested to escort of the Senate.

and Seconder the President f the nomination '.o the Chair.

[The President in the Chair] PRESIDENT'S REPLY "Article 52.
( 1) When the Senate election and of any to the despatch it shall elect to a Senator and, if the at any of the first meets after any general before it proceeds other business, be President office of President falls vacant time before the next dissolution the Senate shall, Legislature, elect another practicable, office."

of the Senate; Senator as soon as to that "Standing ever it is necessarv a Senator for the election this Order.

Order No.

2.
Order No.

2.

(1) When­ for the Senate to elect to be President, the procedure shall be as provided in having first ascer­ to be proposed may ad­ to serve if elected, to the Clerk, pr�pose (not being a Minister himself (2)Any Senator, tained that the Senator is willing dressing any other Senator or a Parliamentary Sena�e as President.

reqrnre to be seconded "hall be allowed.

Secretary) to the The proposal shall but no debate to the hon.
The President Senators, I to thank me to be your I shall endeavour of this office to the I look forward (Senator Ashton Chase): Honourable wish to take this oppo11unity you for having elected first President.

�arry out the duties best of my ability.

your co-operation the spirit, Constitution I look forward also to lively and in­ in this Senate.

I am debates that the Government to and good will.

May no less than the letter, of our be our guide.


teresting assured come constructive There are tremendous country which is plagued with grave.

social and economic application ciency, of all Guianese for the general this country we are to make reasonably in the years that lie ahead.

tasks ahead of this good headway criticism at all times.

problems.

Effi­ and the co-operation good of if as a whole are essential, will wel­ ( 3) If only one Senator posed, he shall be declared to have been elected.
is so pro­ by the Clerk ( 4) If more than one Senator is so to proposed, elect a President the Senate shall proceed by ballot."

May I draw your attention parti­ to the provision cularly and Parliamentary eligible President.

Secretaries are not for election to the office of that Ministers I will now call for nominations for the office of President.

I pray that commonsense and unity of the public good will Please accept my sincerest in the interest prevail.
thanks for this honour which you have conferred which I am deeply sensitive of .

[Applause.]

upon me, the r,esponsib:ilities ELECTION OF VICE-PRESIDENT The President: Sena­ Honourable and of the Government are not eligible I now as Vice-President.

tors, the Ministers Parliamentary Secretaries for nomination invite President.

for the office of Vice­ nominations Hubbard Senator and Industry) Chase for the office of President.

of Trade Senator Ashton nominated (Minister Senator Moneer Khan seconded.
There being no other nominations, the Clerk declared Senator Ashton Chase Senator C. Christian: C. V. Too-Chung.

nate Senator I beg m nomi­ C. Ramjattan Sena.tor The President: other nominations, tor C. V. Too-Chung the duly elected As there are no I hereby declare Sena­ seconded.

1 A pPointment of 5TH 0cTOBER.

1961 Committee of Sclrrtion 8 {Applause.]

APPOINTMENT OF COMMITIEE OF SELECTION of the Senate.

Vice-President Too-Chung my warm­ lextend to Senator est congratulations.
I hope you will have a fruitful and successful term of office.

VICE-PRESIDENT'S REPLY The President next caUed for nomi­ of nations Selection 61, shall be appointed the beginning sist of the President four Senators of members of the Committee which, under Standine: Order by the s'enatc and con• and as Chairman of every session nominated at by the Senate.

(Vice,..Presi­ Senator Too-Chung l dent): Mr President, upon thank you for the honour conferred I do trust me.
It is, indeed, that vour confidence placed.

(Applause.]

a surprise.

would not be mis­ hon.

Senators, OA'TII OF ALLEGIANCE The President and Vice-President then made and subscribed Senators.

followed by the remaining the Oath, of Educa­ Senator Nunes (Minister tion a n d Social Development): Mr.

Senator the I beg to nominate President, hon.

H.J.

Ram­ Senator M. Hubbard, jattan.

Anne Jardim and Senator Senator C. V. Too-Chung as m embers of the Committee of Selection.

Senator Christia n seconded.


I Pause.l PRAYERS Prayers Clerk.

were read by the LA YING OF STANDING ORDERS The President: I declare the follow­ to be members of the ing Senators mittee of Selection:- Senator the hon.

H.J.

M. Hubbard, Senator Ramjattan, Senator Anne Jardim and Senator C. Teo-Chung.

V Com­ The President the Standing Orders made bv ernor under section Guiana (Constitution) 196L then Jaid on the the Gov­ 11 of "'the British Order in Council.
Table ADJOURNMENT Resolved, "That this Senate do now Hubbard] [Senator adjourn".

- Adjounied accordingly at 2.28 p.m.