Source document: https://docs-lawep.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/1698071632835.pdf (Guyana)
Parliament of Guyana HISTORICAL INFORMATION EVENTS & DATES ON THE PARLIAMENT OF GUYANA from 1718 to 2006 Compiled and Produced by Frank A. Narain, A.A., C.C.H., Former Clerk of the National Assembly 15th January, 2007 Knowledge is of two kinds.
We know a subject ourselves, or We know where we can find information on it - Samuel Johnson, English poet, critic, and lexicographer (1709-84) This copy of this File with the Historical Information on the Parliament of Guyana from 1718 to 2006 which has been Compiled and Produced By Frank A. Narain Former Clerk of the National Assembly has been Presented To …………………….…………………………..…………… ………………….……………………………..…………… With the Compliments of Frank A. Narain © 2009 Parliament of Guyana 1 PART I PRELIMINARY Contents Preface and Introduction Abbreviations used in this File Sources of Information 2 CONTENTS Part I - Preliminary 1.
2.

3.

Preface and Introduction Abbreviations used in this File Sources of Information Part II - Arrivals 4.

The Discovery of the Country 5.

First Arrivals and Settlers in and Ownership of the Colonies 11 19 20 23 24 Part III - Legislative Periods, Names of Legislative Bodies, First Members of Legislative Bodies, and Some Events with Dates 1718-2006 6.

1718 to 1803 The Dutch Law-Making Body – The Court of Policy 29 7.
1803 to 1928 Ownership by the British -Continuation of the Dutch Court of Policy 30 8.

1928 to 1930 British Crown Colony- The First Legislative Council of British Guiana 32 9.

1930 to 1935 The Second Legislative Council 33 10.

1935 to 1947 The Third Legislative Council 35 11.

1947 to 1953 The Fourth Legislative Council 37 12.

1953 The House of Assembly and the State Council 38 13.

1954 to 1957 The Interim Legislative Council 41 14.

1957 to 1961 The Legislative Council 15.


1961 to 1964 The Legislative Assembly and the Senate 16.

1964 to 1966 The House of Assembly 17.

1966 to 1968 The National Assembly of the First Parliament of Guyana 43 45 47 51 3 CONTENTS 18.

1969 to 1973 The National Assembly of the Second Parliament of Guyana 19.

1973 to 1980 The National Assembly of the Third Parliament of Guyana 20.

1980 to 1985 The National Assembly of the Fourth Parliament of Guyana 21.
1985 to 1992 The National Assembly of the Fifth Parliament of Guyana 22.

1992 to 1997 The National Assembly of the Sixth Parliament of Guyana 23.

1997 to 2001 The National Assembly of the Seventh Parliament of Guyana 24.

2001 to 2006 The National Assembly of the Eighth Parliament of Guyana 25.

Since 2006 The National Assembly of the Ninth Parliament of Guyana Part IV - Elections 26.

The Franchise 27.

Electoral Systems 28.

Numbers of Constituencies 29.

Constituencies – Names and Numbers 30.


Political Parties 31.

Dates of Elections 32.

Parties Allocation of Seats Part V – Supreme Organs of Democratic Power 33.

The National Congress of Local Democratic Organs 34.

The Supreme Congress of the People 4 52 55 58 62 66 69 72 75 81 82 83 83 86 88 89 93 93 CONTENTS Part VI - Legislative Bodies 35.

Names and Periods 36.

Parties Forming Governments Part VII - Officials 37.

Kings and Queens of England 38.

Governors of British Guiana 39.


Governors-General 40.

Presidents 41.

Presiding in the Legislature 42.

Speakers 43.

Deputy Speaker 44.

Presidents of Upper Houses 45.

Vice-Presidents of Upper Houses 46.

Ex Officio and other Official Members in the Legislature 47.

The First Ministers 48.

Premiers/Prime Ministers 97 98 101 102 103 104 104 105 105 107 107 107 109 110 49.

Leaders of the Opposition/Minority Leaders 112 50.

Non-Elected Ministers and Non-Elected Parliamentary Secretaries 51.
The First Women Legislators Part VIII - Some Miscellaneous Matters 52.

Legislature/Parliament 53.

Unicameral/Bicameral Legislatures 54.

Places of Meetings - The Public Buildings 55.

Dress for Sittings 56.

Seating Arrangements 57.

The Mace 113 113 117 118 119 122 123 124 5 CONTENTS 58.

Prayers Read in the Legislature 59.

Oaths by Members 60.

Forms of Addressing the Speaker and Members 61.

Recess for the National Assembly 62.

Prorogation and Dissolution 63.


Table of Precedence Part IX - Committees 64.

Finance Committee of the Legislative Council 65.

Legislative Council Advisory Committees 66.

The Public Accounts Committee 67.

Other Committees Part X - Services to the Legislature 68.

The Colonial Secretary’s Office 69.

The Office of the Legislature 70.

The First Staff of the Legislature 71.

The Parliament Office 126 126 127 128 129 130 137 137 137 138 141 143 143 144 72.
The Present Staff of the Parliament Office 144 73.

The Clerks and the Deputy Clerks 74.

The Hansard Editors 75.

The Sergeants-at-Arms 145 147 147 76.

Mission Statement of the Parliament Office 148 77.

The Chief Parliamentary Counsel 149 Part XI - Documents 78.

Some Important Parliamentary Documents 153 79.

Constitutional Instruments 80.

The Standing Orders 155 157 6 CONTENTS 81.

Ordinances/Acts 82.

The Parliamentary Library Part XII - Remuneration 83.

Remuneration of Legislators 84.


Superannuation Benefits for Legislative Service Part XIII - Affiliated Organisations 85.

The Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA) 86.

The Caribbean Regional Grouping of the CPA 87.

The Inter-Parliamentary Union 88.

The Amazonian Parliament 89.

The Society of Clerks-at-the-Table in Commonwealth Parliaments 90.

The Association of Secretaries-General Part XIV – Final Matters 91.

Some Special Visitors to Parliament 92.


Some Parliamentary Firsts and Long Service Records 93.

They Too Made Parliamentary History 94.

Some Parliamentary Family Connections 95.

Some Incidents 96.

Some Notable Changes at a Glance 97.

Other Documents by the Producer 98.

Index 159 160 165 166 171 171 172 172 172 173 177 179 180 182 183 185 191 193 99.
About the Producer After the Index 7 PREFACE AND INTRODUCTION Parliamentary Training Seminar for MPs For the Parliamentary Training Seminar which has been arranged for January, 2007, for the Members of the Guyana Parliament, following the General and Regional Elections on 28th August, 2006, I was invited to give a History of Parliamentarianism in Guyana.

Why was I Chosen?

Why was I chosen to give this presentation?
Maybe it was because of my many continuous years – just over half a century – longer than any other person - since from the Colonial days in 1951, through to the Executive Presidency days in 2002 - of direct and active association with and involvement in the work of Parliament, that it was felt that I would have some knowledge of the history of our Parliament and would be able, even though I have since retired, to continue to share this kind of information with others.
While I may have had some experience, I do not claim to have the knowledge, the qualifications and the ability required for the presentation of a history of this kind.

And also while I have made many presentations on several aspects of our Parliament, I have never before presented or even prepared as important a topic as a History of the Parliament of Guyana.
But not being a member of any Political Party, and having tried to perform my duties in as fair a manner as possible, giving my service, as a Parliamentary Officer, to every Member of the National Assembly, irrespective of his/her Party connection, it might have been felt that I would be able to give factual information without a bias.

We know what happens to people who stay in the middle of the road.

They get run down.

(Aneurin Bevan, British Labour Politician, 1953) I therefore accepted the challenge.
8 Preparations for the Parliamentary History But I had to make preparations for my presentation.

I first began by asking myself some questions.

What is Parliamentary history?

What constitutes such history?

Who or what contributes to or makes this history?

What would the MPs wish or expect to hear from me in such a history?

One of the answers that came to me was that it is the MPs who make the history.

They are the important people.

They not only make laws; they make history.


The answers to my other questions I neither sought nor got.

So I made my own decision.

I next started to note some matters, which I felt, based on my experience, should be included in such a history and did some research, studied these and made relevant notes on them.
Long Preface and Introduction This combined Preface and Introduction will be long because it is here that I am giving a background to and some of the historical information on the Parliament of Guyana.

The other pages and pages of information which follow consist mainly of historical data which I have selected - events, facts, statistics, dates, officials, etc., and some short articles on certain matters.
The facts which I am giving will be actual facts, without justifying or criticising them or the actions of anyone, not only because I shouldn’t do so, but also because I may not be capable or qualified to do so.

Going Back This turned me back into time.

My research went back and back to the time of the establishment in 1928 by the British of the first law-making body, which was a Colonial type of Legislative Council, for the Colony of British Guiana (BG).
But that was not the first law-making body for the Country.

Although the British possessed the Country since 1803, there were other Europeans in Guiana before the British who might have or who actually established important administrative/law-making bodies.
9 Looking Back While this is a Parliamentary History and not a general history of Guyana, it is nevertheless useful in this history, and should not be considered as being out of place, to also look further back, even if briefly, into the earlier times and origins of the Country.

Arrival of the Amerindians The Amerindians were the first to arrive in Guiana.

They thus became the indigenous people of Guiana.


They were supposed to have crossed a land bridge, now beneath the sea, from Siberia, and entered the Americas over ten thousand years before the birth of Christ.

Two tribes, the Arawaks and the Caribs came.

The Name Guiana It was the Amerindians who gave the Country the name Guiana, which means “Land of Many Waters”.

Arrival of the Europeans Europeans came next – some while cruising, some to trade, while some settled.
As they came, they began to battle for possession of the Country.

Sir Walter Raleigh and his Book Sir Walter Raleigh, a great British courtier, sailor and author, in his Book “The Discoverie of Guiana” which was published in England on his return from an expedition to Guiana in 1595, in search of the golden city of El Dorado, advertised the richness and beauty of the Country, its glorious rivers, its several varieties of plants and birds and its luscious fruits.
He wrote “Whatever Prince shall possess it, that Prince shall be lord of more gold and of more cities and people than either the King of Spain or the great Turk”.

He said that far away in the interior there was a tribe of Indians whose heads were beneath their shoulders.
10 Painting of Raleigh I should mention in passing, because it can properly fall within this kind of history, being part of the history of the Parliament Chamber, that there was in the Parliament Chamber a life-size painting of Sir Walter Raleigh and his eldest son Walter.

The painting was presented in 1933 by Sir Edward Brandis Denham, KCMG, KBE, who was the Governor of the Colony from 1930 to 1934, and was a gift from Major Arbuthnot.
The original is said to have been painted from life in 1602 by the Flemish artist Marcus Gheeraerts of Wickham Court, Kent.
This painting was removed from the Chamber before 23rd February, 1970, that is, the date of the change to Republican Status, which was the same time that, for reasons of protocol, the photographs of Queen Elizabeth II and her Consort, Prince Philip, and the life-size paintings of former Sovereigns and their Queens, King George V and Queen Mary and King George VI and Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother, were also removed from the Chamber.
Arrival of the Europeans Raleigh’s Book had caused European traders to be attracted to Guiana.

Those who came, whether before or after Raleigh’s Book, included the Spaniards, the Portuguese, the Dutch, the British and the French.

In Guyana today, there are evidences of these Europeans.

Towns and villages and other things have French and Dutch as well as English names.

The Dutch The Dutch seemed to have been powerful and to have had the greatest input.

They first arrived in 1580.


From time to time, they established settlements and built forts in several places in the Country.

They also established a number of important institutions including in 1718, a Council of Policy and Justice to deal with Government and Judicial matters.

On 26th May, 1739, a Constitution was established by the Dutch.

In 1750, the Council of Justice was separated from the Council of Policy.
11 Establishment of the Court of Policy – The Dutch Law-making Body A Court of Policy was established by the Dutch, as far as could have been discovered, in 1732, as the law-making body and is accepted as the first law- making body of the Country.

The British from 1803 When the British for the third and last time got possession of the Country from the Dutch in 1803, they allowed the Dutch laws and usages to remain in force, and the Court of Policy remained and continued as the Legislature of the Colonies.
British Guiana from 1831 In 1831, the Colony of Demerara and Essequibo was united with the Colony of Berbice and they became the Colony of British Guiana.

Continuation of Dutch Institutions The principal Dutch Institutions of the Court of Policy, the College of Financial Representatives, the Court of Justice, the College of Electors and the Combined Court further continued by the British to be in existence in British Guiana, although substantially Dutch in character.
The 1891 Constitution On 3rd February, 1891, a Bill to alter the Political Constitution of the Colony was passed as the British Guiana Constitution Ordinance, 1891 (Ordinance No.

1 of 1891).

The Court of Policy Under the 1891 Constitution, the Court of Policy continued as the law- making body.
It consisted of 16 Members: The Governor, as President, 12 with an original and a casting vote, 7 Official Members – the Government Secretary, the Attorney General, the Immigration Agent General, and the Receiver General, as the 4 Ex Officio Members, and three other persons holding Public Office as His Majesty may from time to time appoint - and 8 Elected Members from 7 Electoral Districts.

While the Elected Members were 8, all the other Members totalled 8 also.
It was in this 1891 Court of Policy that there was the first Guyanese legislator of African descent.

He was Alex Benjamin Brown, a lawyer from Den Amstel.
The First Legislative Council by the British for British Guiana It was not until 1928 in a new Colonial type of Constitution, introduced by the British for British Guiana, that the British established the first law-making body, a Colonial type called the Legislative Council and this replaced the Dutch created law-making body, the Court of Policy, and also the Combined Court.
The Westminster system, procedures and practices, with modifications suitable for a new Crown Colony had begun to be introduced into British Guiana with the British rulership and control continuing and remaining in force.

England is the Mother of Parliaments.


(John Bright, English Liberal Politician and Reformer, 1865) The First Legislative Council consisted of 30 persons: The Governor, 2 Ex Officio Members, 8 Official Members, 5 Unofficial Members and 14 Elected Members – the 14 Elected Members being in the minority in the Council, the others numbering 16.
The composition of the Second and Third Legislative Councils which resulted from the next two general elections in 1930 and 1935 was the same as in the First Legislative Council, which continued to keep the Elected Members in the minority: still 14 to 16.

13 1947 - Elected Members in Majority for First Time It was not until 1947 in the Fourth Legislative Council, that the Elected Members became the majority: 14 to 11.
New Features from 1953 Voting was restricted until 1953 when universal adult suffrage came into operation.

Also, women were allowed to be legislators for the first time.

I was already involved in and associated with the work of Parliament when, in 1953, for the first time, the British, with a new Constitution, created the Office of Speaker and introduced a Ministerial system of Government in and for the Colony of British Guiana.
A new bicameral Legislature – a State Council and a House of Assembly – was also introduced.

The People’s Progressive Party (PPP) which began as the Political Affairs Committee (PAC) in 1946 and which replaced that Committee in 1950, contested the 1953 general elections and won 18 of the 24 seats in the new House of Assembly.

One other Party – the National Democratic Party – won 2 seats and Independent Candidates won 4 seats.
Six PPP Members of the Assembly were elected on 18th May, 1953, to be Ministers and were assigned portfolios.

Three women became legislators for the first time, and one was elected to be the first Deputy Speaker.

The first Speaker was appointed by the Governor.


Dissolution of the 1953 Legislature Problems must have arisen between the PPP Ministers and the other Members of the Administration because on 9th October, 1953, the British suspended the Constitution, prorogued the State Council and the House of Assembly and removed the portfolios of the Ministers.

On 21st December, 1953, the Legislature (the State Council and the House of Assembly) was dissolved.
All persons ceased to be Ministers and legislators from that time.

14 1954 – 1957 : Interim Legislative Council The British made some amendments to the 1953 Constitution and established a new Wholly Nominated Single Chamber Interim Legislative Council, which was in operation from 1954 to 1957.

All of the Members of that Legislative body were nominated by the Governor.

No Members were nominated from the People’s Progressive Party.
Changes As further time went on after that period of marking time, there have been all kinds of changes over the years.
There have been changes in the Political status of the Country, from a Colony of the British with the Dutch law-making body of the Court of Policy from 1803, to full British rule from 1928, to a Ministerial system of Government in 1953, to Internal Self-Government in 1961, to Independence in 1966, to Republican Status in 1970, ceasing to be part of Her Majesty’s dominions, and to an executive Presidency from 1980.
There were changes in the name of the Country, in the name and composition of the successive Legislative bodies, and in the Presiding Official of the Legislative bodies.

There were changes in the system of elections, in the franchise, in the constituencies, and in the dress for male Members attending sittings.

Legislation was enacted for the payment of salaries and superannuation benefits for legislative service.

A Mace was also introduced.


I noted all of these matters as being matters for consideration in a Parliamentary History, and did research on them.

As I kept researching, I kept adding regularly more and more related Parliamentary matters which I felt would also be of historical interest and wrote pages and pages of Notes on all of these matters.
Notes with Information My Notes became a compilation of information on the various legislative 15 bodies and the first Members thereof, the establishment of the Offices and the names of the Governors, the Governors-General, the Presidents, the Speakers, the Prime Ministers, the First Ministers, the Leaders of the Opposition, the First Women Members, the names of some Political Parties, the franchise, the constituencies, and on the systems and dates of elections.
Because of the part played by the British Monarchs, I subsequently added to my Notes the names of the 18 Kings and Queens of England from the time of the Stuart House in 1603 to the present time.

Several important Parliamentary and Parliamentary related events with dates were recorded.

There is also historical information on the Parliamentary Documents and on the establishment of the Parliamentary Library, the Prayers, the Oath, and on the establishment of the Parliament Office and on the Staff.
Incidents On the lighter side of our Parliamentary History, I recall from memory, and have noted, not with dates, a number of incidents, some amusing, some serious, such as boycotting Parliament, walking out, sprinkling flour, pushing down table, giving a loaf of bread to the Speaker, making up (powdering ) face, removing Mace from rests below Table and placing it on the Table, refusing to apologise to the Speaker, Opposition Member sitting in the Prime Minister’s chair, banging on tables with paper weights, MPs being resigned without their knowledge, crossing the floor, suspension of MPs, prevented by the Speaker from speaking until apology is made, Clerks refusing to carry out the requests of the Speaker, hiding the Mace.
Was there a case of pelting a drinking glass at the Speaker?

And was there a case of an apparent indecent act?

Was there a case of slapping a Reporter?


16 Families Still on the lighter side of our Parliamentary History, but this time on the family side, there have been a number of Parliamentary family connections – persons from the same families being legislators, in some cases in the same and in others in different legislative bodies, and in some cases from the same and in other cases from different Political Parties.
There have been in our Legislative bodies husbands and wives, brother and sister, fathers and sons, father and daughter, parents and son, fathers and sons-in-law, brothers, uncle and nephew, and cousins.

References to these family connections have been given, but, at this time, the names of the persons have been left to the reader to figure out.

Parliamentary Firsts and Long Service Records I have also included a list of a few Parliamentary Firsts and Long Service Records that came to mind.
Again, I have left out the names of the persons for the reader to figure out.

More There is still more information herein that I have noted.

Time Constraint However, in preparing this presentation, I found that because of the very short time which was available to me, I was unable to do the kind of research required to produce a better publication with more facts.
While, to obtain my information, I referred to several documents, which I am grateful were available, much, much more time was needed to look at other historical publications and records, from the Parliament Office Library and Files, from the Archives and from the National Library.

I didn’t even have the time to find and look at that very important book by Clementi.

17 There are therefore some incomplete areas and some matters may, regrettably, not have been included.

This is not deliberate.


However, what I have compiled I have tried to make as accurate as possible.

Improvement of Notes As I looked at the Notes that I had compiled, I felt that these could form my presentation at the Seminar and that an oral presentation by me may either be very brief or may not be necessary at all.
I therefore improved upon my Notes, arranged them in an orderly manner, with the intention of having them printed and bound into a handy Book of a convenient size for distribution to the MPs at the Seminar.

Unfortunately, again the time was far too short to complete this exercise in this manner.
The preparation of the information herein took and continued to take a very great deal of my time – thinking, researching, reading, studying, writing, typing, re-reading, and correcting and producing several hard copies – all by me.

Because of the amount and type of information which I compiled and considered as being suitable as Parliamentary Historical records, I had to spend some time assorting the information and putting it into some proper order.

I also decided to put the matters into groups.


I came up with and stopped at fourteen groupings which I have called Parts, with nearly 100 matters – 99 to be exact.

I then had to number the pages - I got exactly 200.

Then I prepared a Table of Contents and an Index.

18 Files My Notes, incomplete in some cases, have therefore, not with pride and satisfaction, had, as an alternative to the printing and binding into books, to be photocopied and put into hard cover files for the Training Seminar.
I consider the information in this File as a great and valuable compilation, the only one of its kind to have been produced, covering hundreds of years with hundreds of facts and information associated with the Parliament of Guyana, all in one place, a convenient and handy file.

I am sorry about the repetitions in some cases.

Presentation During the course of my brief oral presentation at the Seminar, I will be making a further presentation.
I will be presenting a complimentary copy of this File to every Member of Parliament who attends the Seminar.

I do hope that my File will serve as a useful reference for Parliamentary Historical Information.

I commend it.

Frank A. Narain (Former Clerk of the National Assembly) January, 2007.
Address: 97 & 102 Area J, Ogle, East Coast Demerara, Guyana Tel: (592) 222-2742 19 ABBREVIATIONS USED IN THIS FILE The following are some of the abbreviations used in this File and their meanings:- AA BG Golden Arrow of Achievement (Guyana National Honour) British Guiana (the name of the Colony from 1831 to 1966.
It became Guyana from 1966) CBE Commander of the Order of the British Empire CCH CMG CSO DCM DSO E II R GAP (British Honour) Cacique’s Crown of Honour (Guyana National Honour) Companion of (the Order of) St. Michael and St. George (British Honour) Colonial Secretary’s Office Distinguished Conduct Medal (British Honour) Distinguished Service Order (British Honour) Queen Elizabeth The Second Guyana Action Party (Local Political Party) GAP/ROAR Guyana Action Party/Rise, Organise and Rebuild Party (Two Local Political Parties) GAP/WPA Guyana Action Party/Working People’s Alliance (Two Local Political Parties) Hon Honourable JFAP Justice For All Party (Local Political Party) JP Justice of the Peace KCMG Knight Commander of (the Order of) St. Michael and St. George (British Honour) LP Liberator Party (Local Political Party) MBE Member of the Order of the British Empire (British Honour) MC Military Cross (British Honour) MD Doctor of Medicine MP Member of Parliament (British and Local Designation) MS Medal of Service (Guyana National Honour) 20 NCLDO National Congress of Local Democratic Organs (Local Organ) NDP National Democratic Party (Local Political Party) NLF National Labour Front (Local Political Party) OBE Officer of the Order of the British Empire (British Honour) OE Order of Excellence (Guyana’s Highest National Honour) OR Order of Roraima (Guyana National Honour) PNC People’s National Congress (Local Political Party) PNC/R People’s National Congress/Reform (Local Political Party) PNCR-1G People’s National
 Congress Reform – One Guyana (Local Political Party) PPP People’s Progressive Party (Local Political Party) PPP(B) People’s Progressive Party (Burnhamite Faction) (Local Political Party) PPP(J) People’s Progressive Party (Jaganite Faction) (Local Political Party) PPP/C People’s Progressive Party/Civic (Local Political Party) QC Queen’s Counsel (Legal Honour) RE Royal Engineers (British) ROA R Rise, Organise and Rebuild Party (Local Political Party) SC Senior Counsel (Legal Honour) TUF The United Force (Local
 Political Party) UDP United Democratic Party (Local Political Party) UF United Force (Local Political Party) WPA Working People’s Alliance (Local Political Party) 21 SOURCES OF INFORMATION The Producer of this File would have obtained his information from several documents including the following:- Constitutions of British Guiana and of Guyana Reports on the General Elections for 1964 and 1973 Constitutional Development in Guyana 1621 – 1978 by Dr. M. Shahabuddeen Official Gazettes Parliamentary Minutes and Debates Parliamentary Acts Parliamentary Bills Subsidiary Legislation Parliamentary Oath Books The Children’s Story of Guiana by E.L. De Weever Entries in his personal diaries from 1964 Invitations to him Programmes for Functions Other personal records 22 From Pain to Peace 1953 – 1964 by Hamilton Green The West on Trial by Dr. Cheddi Jagan A Destiny to Mould – Selected Discourses by Forbes Burnham Report of the British Guiana Constitutional Commission (Robertson) 1954 Report of the British Guiana Constitutional Conference held in London in March 1960 The British Guiana Civil Service List 1943 Highlights of Guyanese History by T. Anson Sancho From the Middle Kingdom to the New World by Margery Kirkpatrick Race and Ethnicity in Guyana by Kampta Karran 23 NOTE ON SOURCES AND REFERENCES The Author/Compiler has indicated – on page 22 – his sources of information for the eventual production of this publication.
The content of some parts of the compilation is by their original/indigenous nature, based on his personal notes, diaries and first-hand experience of working in the National Assembly throughout many Legislative Periods.

Indeed, no official recorded documents can be accessed with respect to some bits of information, e.g.

social functions, employment records, temporary relocation of the National Assembly.
On the other hand, even secondary sources such as books and newspapers are most difficult to access or be made available locally.

Fortunately, the author has lived and worked through half a century of his adult life amongst his subject and had access to many local primary sources in the National Assembly of Guyana.

The end-notes after the respective Parts, are intended to assist readers, students and researchers fortunate enough to be in a position to acquire further reading and publications.
A.A. Fenty January 2009 24 PART II ARRIVALS Discovery of the Country First Arrivals and Settlers in and Ownership of the Colonies 25 DISCOVERY OF THE COUNTRY FROM 1530 TO 1803 Visits to Guiana and settlements in and/or ownership of the Colonies of Essequibo and Demerara and Berbice were as follows:- Circa 8,000 B.C.
The Amerindians 1530 The Spaniards 1580 The Portuguese 1580 The Dutch 1665 The British 1665 The Dutch 1689 The French 1712 The Dutch 1780 The French 1781 The British 1782 The French 1784 The Dutch 1795 The British 1802 The Dutch, and 1803 The British.

“The Discoverie of Guiana” is the title of a Book which was published in England by Sir Walter Raleigh, a great British courtier, sailor and author, on his return from an expedition to Guiana in 1595 in search of the golden city of El Dorado.
In his book, he advertised the richness and beauty of the country, its glorious rivers, its several varieties of plants and birds and its luscious fruits.

26 He wrote “Whatever Prince shall possess it, that Prince shall be lord of more gold and of more cities and people than either the King of Spain or the great Turk”.

Far away in the interior there was a tribe of Indians whose heads were beneath their shoulders.

FIRST ARRIVALS AND SETTLERS IN AND OWNERSHIP OF THE COLONIES Circa 8,000 B.C.
and After Amerindian tribes were supposed to have crossed a land bridge from Siberia, now beneath the sea, and entered the Americas.

Two tribes, the Arawaks and the Caribs, were the first to arrive in Guiana and became the indigenous people of Guyana.

The Amerindians gave the country the name Guiana, which means “Land of Many Waters”.
The arrivals in Guiana of the Europeans, and their settlements in and ownership of the Colonies of Essequibo and Demerara and Berbice, were as follows:- 1530 The Spaniards were the first Europeans to arrive in Guiana They probably traded with the Amerindians and left.

1580 Portuguese traders came, built a fort on an island at the junction of the Mazaruni and Cuyuni Rivers, but subsequently left.
1580/1613/1614/1615 The Dutch came and made settlements on the coast, in the North West and in the Essequibo River.

27 1594 A British Courtier, Sir Walter Raleigh, sent an expedition to Guiana.

1595 Raleigh himself came to Guiana, but returned to England.

1610/1626/1627 The Dutch settled in Berbice.

1616 Raleigh’s Captain, Lawrence Keymis, came back to Guiana, but returned to England.

1617 Raleigh himself came back to Guiana, but returned to England.

1621 Essequibo was declared a Dutch Colony.


1665 The British captured the Dutch settlements in the Essequibo River and in the Pomeroon River but were soon driven out by the Dutch with the assistance of the French.

1667 The Dutch were left in possession of all the settlements.

1689 The French plundered Berbice.

1712 A ransom was paid and Berbice became Dutch again.

1780 The French came to Guiana and took control from the Dutch but left the next year.

1781 Demerara, Essequibo and Berbice became British.
28 1782 The British surrendered Essequibo, Demerara and Berbice to the French.

1784 Essequibo and Demerara and Berbice were restored by France to the Dutch.

1795 The United Colony of Demerara and Essequibo surrendered to the British.

1796 Berbice surrendered to the British.

1802 Britain restored the Colonies to the Dutch.

1803 An English squadron arrived in Guiana.

The Dutch surrendered and handed over the Colonies to the British.

For the third and last time, the Colonies became British.
REFERENCES/SUGGESTIONS FOR FURTHER READING RALEIGH, SIR WALTER – The Discoverie of the Large, Rich and Bewtiful Empire of Guiana (1595) DE WEEVER, GUY E.L – The Children’s Story of Guyana – the Argosy Bookshop Limited (1932 – 1974) DALY, VERE T – A Short History of the Guyanese People – Vere T Daly (1975) 29 JAGAN, DR. CHEDDI – The West On Trial, Michael Joseph, London, 1966 NETSCHER, PM – History of the Colonies, Essequibo, Demerara and Berbice – from the Dutch establishment to the year 1888 ( trans- lated by W. E. ROTH, Daily Chronicle, Georgetown, 1931) PARRY, J H AND SHERLOCK, P.M. – A Short History of the West Indies, Macmillan, London, 1971.
RODWAY, JAMES – GUIANA: BRITISH, DUTCH and FRENCH- Fisher Union, London 1912.

RODWAY, JAMES – History of British Guiana from 1668, 3 volumes, J Thompson, Georgetown, 1891 – 94.

WEBBER, ARF – Centenary and Hand Book History of British Guiana, Argosy Company, Georgetown, 1931.
SANCHO, T. ANSON – Highlights of Guyanese history 30 PART III LEGISLATIVE PERIODS, NAMES OF LEGISLATIVE BODIES, FIRST MEMBERS OF LEGISLATIVE BODIES, AND SOME EVENTS WITH DATES:1718 to 2006 31 LEGISLATIVE PERIODS, NAMES OF LEGISLATIVE BODIES, FIRST MEMBERS OF LEGISLATIVE BODIES, AND SOME EVENTS WITH DATES:1718 to 2006 1718 to 1803 The Dutch Law-Making Body – The Court of Policy 1803 to 1928 Ownership by the British – Continuation of the Dutch 1928 to 1930 The First Legislative Council of British Guiana Court of Policy 1930 to 1935 The Second Legislative Council 1935 to 1947 The Third Legislative Council 1947 to 1953 The Fourth Legislative Council 1953 The House of Assembly and the State Council 1954 to 1957 The Interim Legislative Council 1957 to 1961 The Legislative Council 1961 to 1964 The Legislative Assembly and the Senate 1964 to 1966 The House of Assembly 1966 to 1968 The National Assembly of the First Parliament of Guyana 1969 to 1973 The National Assembly of the Second Parliament of Guyana 1973 to 1980 The National Assembly of the Third Parliament of Guyana 1980 to 1985 The National Assembly of the Fourth Parliament of Guyana 1985 to 1992 The National Assembly of the Fifth Parliament of Guyana 1992 to 1997 The National Assembly of the Sixth Parliament of Guyana 1997 to 2001 The National Assembly of the Seventh Parliament of Guyana 2001 to 2006 The National Assembly of the Eighth Parliament of Guyana Since 2006 The National Assembly of the Ninth Parliament of Guyana 32 LEGISLATIVE PERIODS, NAMES OF
 LEGISLATIVE BODIES, FIRST MEMBERS OF LEGISLATIVE BODIES, AND SOME EVENTS WITH DATES : 1718 TO 2006 1718 TO 1803 THE DUTCH LAW-MAKING BODY – THE COURT OF POLICY In 1718, the Dutch established a Council of Policy and Justice to deal with Government and Judicial matters.
In 1732, the Dutch established the Court of Policy as the law-making body.

On 26th May, 1739, the Dutch established a Constitution.

In 1750, the Council of Justice was separated from the Council of Policy.

The principal institutions which were established by the Dutch were - The Court of Policy This was the law-making body.

As far as could have been discovered, the Court of Policy was established in 1732, and is accepted as the first law-making body of the Country.
It consisted of 11 Members: The Governor, with a casting vote, 5 Members elected by the free holders, and 5 Officials, who included the Fiscal Officer and the Vendor Master.

The Court of Policy also performed the executive functions of the Colony until 1892, when an Executive Council was established for this purpose.

The Combined Court This body consisted of – The Court of Policy, and 33 6 elected representatives, known as the Financial Representatives.
The specific duty of the Combined Court was to vote money consequent on the laws passed by the Court of Policy.

The Combined Court often refused to vote the money which the Court of Policy had decreed.

The Court of Justice This body was of a punitive rather than of an administrative nature.

The College of Keizers The soldiers of the Burgher Militia chose some of their number to represent them in what became known as a College of Keizers.
The College of Keizers originally chose one member of the Court of Policy and later it chose 5 members who constituted the Official side of the Court of Policy.

1803 TO 1928 OWNERSHIP BY THE BRITISH - CONTINUATION OF THE DUTCH COURT OF POLICY In 1803, the Dutch surrendered and handed over the Colony of Essequibo and Demerara and the Colony of Berbice to the British.

For the third and last time, the Colonies became British.

The Dutch laws and usages remained in force.


The Court of Policy remained as the law-making body.

In 1829, the foundation stone of the Public Buildings was laid.

British Guiana from 1831 34 In 1831, the Colony of Essequibo and Demerara and the Colony of Berbice were united and became the Colony of British Guiana.
The principal Dutch Institutions of the Court of Policy, the College of Financial Representatives, the Court of Justice, the College of Electors and the Combined Court further continued in existence by the British, although substantially Dutch in character, until 1928.

In 1832, the voting age was lowered from 25 years to 21 years.

In 1832, the Public Buildings was completed.


On 5th August, 1834, the Public Buildings was formally handed over to a Committee of the Court of Policy, which was the law-making body of the Colony.

In 1835, to qualify to vote, persons had to be paying direct taxes of 70 guilders (£5) per annum.

In 1836, to qualify to vote, persons had to be assessed to pay direct taxes on an income of not less than 2001 guilders (£143).
In 1849, only male British subjects with certain property qualifications were allowed to vote.

Voting by women was withdrawn.

In 1875, the coffered ceiling of the Parliament Chamber in the Public Buildings was constructed by Castellani, an Italian Architect, and was done in pastel hues of pink, green, blue and off-white.

In 1889, the origins of the Inter-Parliamentary Union began.
In 1891, the British amended the Political Constitution of the Colony by the British Guiana Constitution Ordinance, 1891 (No.

1 of 1891).

The franchise was lowered.

The income qualification for voting which had been reduced from $600 (£125) to $480 (£100) per annum was further reduced to £75.

35 An Executive Council was established for the first time.

The executive functions were transferred from the Court of Policy to the Executive Council.
The Court of Policy, the law-making body, which had consisted of 11 Members under the Dutch now had 16 Members: The Governor (with an original as well as a casting vote), 4 Ex Officio Members (the Government Secretary, the Attorney General, the Immigration Agent General and the Receiver General), 3 other Official Members, and 8 Elected Members from 7 Constituencies.

The number of the Elected Members was the same as the number of the other Members.
Alex Benjamin Brown, a lawyer from Den Amstel, was the first Guyanese of African descent to become a legislator.

On 17th May, 1892, Sir Donald Edward Jackson (the Second Speaker) was born.

In 1894, the Inter-Parliamentary Union was formally established.

In 1909, the income qualification for voting was reduced.

On 16th December, 1909, Alexander Irving Crum Ewing (a former Clerk of the Legislature), was born.

On 11th May, 1910, Rahman Baccus Gajraj (the Third and also the Fifth Speaker) was born.
In 1911, the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association was founded.

On 9th January, 1918, Arthur Chung (the First President of Guyana) was born.

On 14th February, 1918, Elwyn Valentine Viapree (a former Clerk of the Legislature) was born.

On 22nd March, 1918, Cheddi Jagan (the longest serving Member of Parliament and the Fourth President of Guyana) was born.

36 On 20th October, 1920, Janet Jagan (the Sixth President of Guyana) was born.
On 20th February, 1923, Linden Forbes Sampson Burnham (the Second President of Guyana and the First President with Executive powers) was born.

On 27th January, 1925, Sase Narain (the Sixth and longest serving Speaker) was born.

In 1926, a Parliamentary Commission from Britain visited British Guiana to consider Constitutional reform.

In 1926, General Elections were held.

The Popular Party won the majority of seats – 8.

In 1928, new property qualifications for voting were introduced.
Voting by women was restored.

1928 TO 1930 BRITISH CROWN COLONY - THE FIRST LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL OF BRITISH GUIANA On 28th March, 1928, the British Parliament enacted the British Guiana Act making provision for the Government of the Colony of British Guiana.

On 13th July, 1928, the British Guiana (Constitution) Order in Council, 1928, was made by the King in Council.

On 17th July, 1928, the Court of Policy met for the last time.
On 18th July, 1928, the new British Crown Colony Constitution – The British Guiana (Constitution) Order in Council, 1928 – came into operation.

British Guiana became a British Crown Colony.

The first Legislative Council was established by the British and replaced the Dutch created Court of Policy and the Combined Court.
37 The Legislative Council was comprised of 30 Members : The Governor, 2 Ex Officio Members, 8 Nominated Official Members, 5 Nominated Unofficial Members and 14 Elected Members from 8 Constituencies.

The Elected Members were 14 and the others were 16.

The following were the first 30 Members of the First Legislative Council of the Colony of British Guiana:- The Governor (1) Brigadier General Sir Frederick Gordon Guggisberg, KCMG, DSO, RE.
Ex Officio Members (2) The Colonial Secretary, Crawford Douglas Douglas-Jones The Attorney General, Hector Archibald Josephs Nominated Official Members (8) Colonial Treasurer, Thomas Millard Director of Education, William Bain Gray Inspector General of Police, William Ernest Horatio Bradburn Director of Public Works, John Cormack Craig Conservator of Forests, Bernard Reader Wood Managing Director, Colonial Transport Department, Sydney Howard Bayley Commissioner of Lands and Mines, John Mullin Acting Surgeon General, William George Boase Nominated Unofficial Members (5) Arthur Piercy Gardiner Austin Thomas Traill Smellie Francis Dias James Smith Sydney Howard Seymour Elected Members (14) Robert Edward Brassington (Senior Member for North West Essequibo) 38 Stanley McDonald DeFreitas (Junior Member for North West Essequibo) Robert Victor Evan Wong (Senior Member for South East Essequibo) Edmund Fitzgerald Fredericks (Junior Member for South East Essequibo) Eustace Gordon Woolford (Senior Member for New Amsterdam) Joseph Eleazar (Junior Member for New Amsterdam) Nelson Cannon (Senior Member for Georgetown) Percy Claude Wight (Junior Member for Georgetown) Joseph Gonsalves (Other Member for Georgetown) Hubert Chester Humphrys (Member for East Demerara) Alfred Victor Crane (Member for West Demerara) Edward Alfred Luckhoo (Senior Member for Berbice) Albert Raymond Forbes Webber (Junior Member for Berbice) Arnold Emanuel Seeram (Member for Demerara) The Legislative Council met for the first time on 28th November, 1928.
Prayers were read by the Rt.

Rev.

Oswald H. Parry, Bishop of Guiana.

Members made and subscribed the Oath.

The Chief Justice administered the Oath to the Governor.

The Governor administered the Oath to the Members.

Standing Rules and Orders were considered and were approved.

Sometime in 1928 the Constitution was suspended.

On 9th March, 1929, Hugh Desmond Hoyte (the Third President of Guyana) was born.

On 25th May, 1930, Derek Chunilall Jagan (the Seventh Speaker) was born.
1930 TO 1935 THE SECOND LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL Elections for the Second Legislative Council were held in September, 1930.

The Legislative Council was comprised of the same number of Members as 39 the First Legislative Council, i.e., 30 Members : The Governor, 2 Ex Officio Members, 8 Nominated Official Members, 5 Nominated Unofficial Members and 14 Elected Members, on this occasion from 14 Constituencies.
In the First Legislative Council there were the same number of elected Members (14) but there were 8 Constituencies.

The Elected Members were 14 and the others were 16.

The First Members of the Second Legislative Council were as follows:- The Governor (1) Sir Edward Brandis Denham, KCMG, KBE.
Ex Officio Members (2) The Colonial Secretary, George Douglas Owen The Attorney General, Hector Archibald Josephs Nominated Official Members (8) Surgeon General, Percy James Kelly Colonial Treasurer, Thomas Millard Director of Education, William Bain Gray Director of Agriculture, John Sydney Dash Director of Public Works, John Cormack Craig Managing Director, Colonial Transport Department, Sydney Howard Bayley Commissioner of Lands and Mines, John Mullin Comptroller of Customs, William Albert D’Andrade Nominated Unofficial Members (5) Frederick Jacob Seaford Gilherne Joseph De Freitas George Earnest Anderson Sydney Howard Seymour Edward Miles Walcott 40 Elected Members (14) Victorine Antonio Pires (Member for North Western District) Robert Edward Brassington (Member for Western Essequibo) Edmund Fitzgerald Fredericks (Member for Essequibo River) Jung Bahadur Singh (Member for Demerara-Essequibo) Eustace Gordon Woolford (Member for New Amsterdam) Nelson Cannon (Member for Georgetown North) Percy Claude Wight (Member for Georgetown Central) Joseph Gonsalves (Member for Georgetown South) Arnold Emanuel Seeram (Member for Eastern Demerara) John Ignatius De Aguiar (Member for Central Demerara) Edward Alfred Luckhoo (Member for Eastern Berbice) Joseph Eleazar (Member for Berbice River) Albert Raymond Forbes Webber (Member for Western Berbice) Alfred Victor Crane (Member for Demerara River) The Second Legislative Council first met on 16th October, 1930.
Members made and subscribed the Oath.

Establishment of Finance Committee A Finance Committee comprising all the elected Members of the Legislative Council, the Colonial Secretary, the Colonial Treasurer and some of the Nominated Members was established.

The duty of the Finance Committee was to examine the Estimates before they were presented to the Legislative Council.

On 1st March, 1931, Winslow Martin Zephyr (the Eighth Speaker) was born.
On 3rd February, 1932, Frank Alston Narain (the longest serving Parliamentary Official and Clerk of the National Assembly) was born.

On 1st November, 1933, a Commission was appointed to examine the franchise.

41 On 9th November, 1934, Hamilton Green (a former Prime Minister) was born.

In 1935, the 1928 Constitution was amended.

The franchise was lowered.

1935 TO 1947 THE THIRD LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL Elections for the Third Legislative Council were held on 3rd September, 1935.
The Third Legislative Council was comprised of the same number of Members as the Second Legislative Council - 30: The Governor, 2 Ex-Officio Members, 8 Nominated Official Members, 5 Nominated Unofficial Members and 14 Elected Members from 14 Constituencies.

The Elected Members were 14 and the others were 16.

The First Members of the Third Legislative Council were as follows:- The Governor (1) Sir Geoffrey Alexander Stafford Northcote, KCMG.
Ex Officio Members (2) The Colonial Secretary, Eubule John Waddington The Attorney General, Hector Archibald Josephs Nominated Official Members (8) The Director of Education, William Bain Gray The Director of Agriculture, John Sydney Dash The Commissioner of Lands and Mines, John Mullin The Colonial Treasurer, Edwin Frank McDavid The Comptroller of Customs, William Albert D’Andrade 42 The Director of Public Works, John Cormack Craig The Acting Surgeon General, Quirino Bonifacio DeFreitas The District Commissioner, East Coast Demerara, Malcolm Buchanan Laing Nominated Unofficial Members (5) Thomas Traill Smellie Malcolm Burnett Gardiner Austin Edward Miles Walcott Joseph Waterton Jackson Francis Dias Elected Members (14) Charles Ramkissoon Jacob (Member for North Western District) Sydney Howard Seymour (Member for Western Essequibo) Alfred Railton Crum Ewing (Member for Essequibo River) Jung Bahadur Singh (Member for Demerara-Essequibo) Eustace Gordon Woolford (Member for New Amsterdam) Frederick Jacob Seaford (Member for Georgetown North) Percy Claude Wight (Member for Georgetown Central) Joseph Gonsalves (Member for Georgetown South) Hubert Chester Humphrys (Member for Eastern Demerara) John Ignatius De Aguiar (Member for Central Demerara) Edward Alfred Luckhoo (Member for Eastern Berbice) Joseph Eleazar (Member for Berbice River) Peer Bacchus (Member for Western Berbice) Arthur George King (Member for Demerara River) The First Meeting of the Third Legislative Council was held on 15th October, 1935.
Members made and subscribed the Oath.

On 12th December, 1936, the Governor, Sir Geoffrey Alexander Stafford Northcote, KCMG, and all Members of the Legislative Council again made and subscribed the Oath.

43 On 11th January, 1939, the British Guiana Branch of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association was formed and British Guiana became an Affiliated Member of the Association.
On 30th March, 1939, the new Governor, Sir (Eubule) John Waddington, KCMG, OBE, made and subscribed the Oath in the Legislative Council.

1939 to 1945 Second World War.

In 1940, on account of the Second World War, the life of the Legislative Council was extended and General Elections for the next (Fourth) Legislative Council were not held until 24th November, 1947.

The life of this Legislature lasted from 1935 to 1947.

In May 1941, a local Franchise Commission was appointed by the Governor.
In 1942, the Finance Committee of the Legislative Council was reconstituted to consist of the Governor, the Colonial Secretary, the Colonial Treasurer and all of the Unofficial Members of the Legislative Council.

On 11th March, 1943, the 1928 Constitution was further amended.

The composition of the Legislative Council was altered.
The membership of the Legislative Council was reduced from 30 to 25: the Governor, 3 Official Members (the Colonial Secretary, the Attorney General and the Colonial Treasurer), 7 Unofficial Members, and 14 Elected Members.

For the first time, the Elected Members were in the majority :14 to 11.

In 1943, Legislative Council Advisory Committees were established.

In 1944, the Local Franchise Commission submitted a Report dated 29th February, 1944 In 1945, the property qualifications for voting were reduced.
Women became eligible for membership to the Legislature for the first time.

44 In 1946, the Political Affairs Committee (PAC), which was in 1950 replaced by the People’s Progressive Party (PPP), was formed.

On 11th August, 1946, Hari Narayen Ramkarran (the Ninth and Present Speaker) was born.

The Third Legislative Council was dissolved in 1947.

1947 TO 1953 THE FOURTH LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL General Elections for the Fourth Legislative Council were held on 24th November, 1947.
Following an amendment on 11th March, 1943, to the 1928 Constitution, the membership of the Fourth Legislative Council was reduced from 30 to 25 : The Governor as President, 3 Official Members (the Colonial Secretary, the Attorney General and the Colonial Treasurer), 7 Unofficial Members (other than Public Servants), and 14 Elected Members.

The Elected Members were in the majority : 14 to 11.

Provision was made for an Office of Deputy President of the Legislative Council.
Eustace Gordon Woolford (Later Sir Eustace Woolford who became the First Speaker in 1953) was selected for the appointment.

The First Members of the Fourth Legislative Council were as follows:- The Governor (1) Sir Charles Campbell Woolley, KCMG, OBE, MC.

45 Ex Officio Members (3) The Colonial Secretary,.
Desmond John Parkinson The Attorney General, Edgar Mortimer Duke The Colonial Treasurer, Edwin Frank McDavid Nominated Members (7) Frederick Jacob Seaford Vincent Roth Thomas Theophilus Thompson William John Raatgever George Arthur Cyril Farnum Cramat Ally McDoom Geoffrey Haward Smellie Elected Members (14) William Phang (Member for North Western District) Claude Vibart Wight (Member for Western Essequibo) Theophilus Lee (Member for Essequibo River) Jung Bahadur Singh (Member for Demerara-Essequibo) William Oscar Rudyard Kendall (Member for New Amsterdam) Jacob Alexander Nicholson (Member for Georgetown North) John Fernandes (Member for Georgetown Central) Hubert Nathaniel Critchlow (Member for Georgetown South) Daniel Prabhudas Debidin (Member for Eastern Demerara) Cheddi Jagan (Member for Central Demerara) George Mayo Gonsalves (Member for Eastern Berbice) Clement Patrick Ferreira (Member for Berbice River) Aaron Theophilus Peters (Member for Western Berbice) Joseph Patrick Coghlan (Member for Demerara River) The First Meeting of the Fourth Legislative Council was held on 18th December, 1947.
Members made and subscribed the Oath.

46 On 15th February, 1948, Robert Herman Orlando Corbin (the Present Leader of the Opposition) was born.

In January, 1950, the People’s Progressive Party (PPP), given that name by Linden Forbes Sampson Burnham, was formed with Cheddi Jagan as Leader, Linden Forbes Sampson Burnham as Chairman, and Janet Jagan as General Secretary, and replaced the Political Affairs Committee.
On 15th December, 1950, the Members of the Constitutional Commission – Sir James Waddington, Chairman, Professor Vincent T. Harlow and Dr. Rita Hinden – which was established to review the franchise, the composition of the Legislative Council, and any other related matters, in the light of the economic and political development of the Colony, and to make recommendations – arrived in the Colony.
On 17th April, 1951, Frank Alston Narain, at the age of 19 years, joined the British Guiana Civil Service as a Class II Clerk in the Colonial Secretary’s Office, in the Public Buildings.

On 29th June, 1951, the Constitutional Commission (the Waddington Commission) submitted its Report.

In March 1952, all property qualifications for voting were abolished and universal adult suffrage was introduced by legislation.
The life of the Legislative Council which first met on 18th December, 1947, after the general elections on 24th November, 1947, was extended for a short period to allow the preparations for the introduction of the new Constitution to be completed.

On 17th August, 1952, Sherlock Ewart Isaacs (the Present Clerk of the National Assembly) was born.

On 8th April, 1953, the Fourth Legislative Council, which first met on 18th December, 1947, was dissolved.
47 MAY TO DECEMBER, 1953 THE HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY AND THE STATE COUNCIL (PPP ADMINISTRATION) On 7th April, 1953, Sir Eustace Gordon Woolford, OBE, QC, was appointed by the Governor, Sir Alfred William Lungley Savage, KCMG, to be the Speaker of the new House of Assembly.

He was the First Speaker for British Guiana and held the Office until 30th June, 1957.

A new Constitution (Waddington) was introduced.


On 27th April, 1953, General Elections were held under the first-past-the- post system for 24 seats in the new House of Assembly and for the first time under universal adult suffrage.

The People’s Progressive Party polled 77,695 or 51% of the valid votes and obtained 18 of the 24 seats in the House of Assembly, the National Democratic Party won 2 seats and Independent candidates won 4 seats.
The following were the First Members of the new House of Assembly:- The Speaker (1) Sir Eustace Gordon Woolford, OBE, QC.

Ex-Officio Members (3) The Chief Secretary, John Gutch, CMG, OBE.

The Attorney General, Frank Wilfred Holder, QC.

The Financial Secretary, Walter Ogle Fraser, OBE.

(Acting) Elected Members (24) People’s Progressive Party (18) 48 Ministers (6) Dr. Cheddi Jagan, Leader of the House and Minister of Agriculture, Forests, Lands and Mines (No.
23 – Corentyne Coast) Linden Forbes Sampson Burnham, Minister of Education (No.

14 – Georgetown North-East) Ashton Chase, Minister of Labour, Industry and Commerce (No.

10 - Georgetown South) Sydney Evanson King, Minister of Communications and Works (No.

16 - Central Demerara) Dr. Joseph Prayag Lachhmansingh, Minister of Health and Housing (No.

8 - East Bank Demerara) Jai Narine Singh, Minister of Local Government and Social Welfare (No.

7 – West Bank Demerara) Deputy Speaker (1) Janet Jagan (No.
3 – Western Essequibo) Other Members (11) Fred Bowman (No.

6 – Demerara-Essequibo) Clinton Reginald Wong (No.11 – Georgetown South Central) Jessie Irma Sampson Burnham (No.12 – Georgetown Central) Frank Obermuller Van Sertima (No.13 – Georgetown North) Ram Karran (No.

15 – West Central Demerara) 49 Jane Phillips-Gay (No.

17 – East Central Demerara) Chandra Sama Persaud (No.

18 – Mahaica-Mahaicony) Samuel Mahabali Latchmansingh (No.

19 – Western Berbice) Ajodha Singh (No.


21 – Berbice River) Dr. Robert Stanley Hanoman Singh (No.

22 – Eastern Berbice) Mohamed Khan (No.

24 – Corentyne River) National Democratic Party (2) William Oscar Rudyard Kendall (No.

20 – New Amsterdam) Eugene Francis Correia (No.

5 – Bartica and Interior) Independents (4) William Alfred Phang (No.

1 - North West) Thomas Sherwood Wheating (No.

2 - Pomeroon) Theophilus Lee (No.

4 – Essequibo Islands) Charles Albert Carter (No.


9 - Upper Demerara River) On 18th May, 1953, the House of Assembly held its First Sitting.

The following were the First Members of the First State Council:- President Sir Frank McDavid, CMG.

Minister without Portfolio Appointed by the Governor (5) William John Raatgever, CBE.

Lionel Alfred Luckhoo William Alexander Macnie, CMG, OBE.

Rahman Baccus Gajraj Dr. Alan John Knight The State Council held its First Meeting on 25th May, 1953.
50 The Ceremonial Opening of the Legislature took place on 30th May, 1953.

Problems arose and on 9th October, 1953, the Constitution was suspended.

The State Council and the House of Assembly were prorogued.

The portfolios of the six elected Ministers were removed.

They became Ministers without Portfolio.


On 2nd December, 1953, the Secretary of State for the Colonies announced in the British House of Commons the appointment of the following to comprise the Constitutional Commission:- Sir James Robertson, KCMG, KBE (Chairman), Sir Donald Jackson, Mr. George Woodcock, CBE, Mr. R.E.

Radford, Colonial Office (Secretary).


The following were the terms of reference of the Commission: “In the light of the circumstances which made it necessary to suspend the Constitution of British Guiana to consider and to recommend what changes are required in it.” On 21st December, 1953, the Legislature (the State Council and the House of Assembly) was dissolved.

All seven Ministers without Portfolio ceased to be Ministers from that time.
51 1954 TO 1957 THE INTERIM LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL Following the dissolution of the Legislature on 21st December, 1953, Temporary Constitutional Provisions were introduced.

A new Executive Council was established.

An Interim (Wholly Nominated Single Chamber) Legislative Council consisting of 28 Members: a Speaker, the Chief Secretary, the Attorney General, the Financial Secretary, and twenty-four Nominated Members, was established.

No Members were nominated from the People’s Progressive Party.
On 5th January, 1954, the Interim Legislative Council met for the first time.

The Governor, Sir Alfred William Lungley Savage, KCMG, addressed the Legislative Council.

The former Speaker, Sir Eustace Gordon Woolford, continued as Speaker of this Legislative Council.

The following were the First Members of the Interim Legislative Council:- Speaker (1) Sir Eustace Gordon Woolford, OBE, QC.

Ex-Officio Members (3) The Chief Secretary, John Gutch, CMG, OBE.

The Attorney General, Frank Wilfred Holder, QC.


The Financial Secretary, Walter Ogle Fraser, OBE.
52 Members with Portfolio (They were not designated Ministers) (4) Sir (Edwin) Frank McDavid, CMG, CBE, Member for Agriculture, Forests and Lands and Mines Percival Augustus Cummings, Member for Labour, Health and Housing William Oscar Rudyard Kendall, Member for Communications and Works George Arthur Cyril Farnum, OBE, Member for Local Government, Social Welfare and Co-operative Development Members without Portfolio (They were not designated Ministers) (3) Geoffrey Haward Smellie (Resigned from 1.1.56) Rahman Baccus Gajraj Rupert Clement Tello Nominated Official Members (2) Wellesley Trevelyan Lord, ISO, Commissioner of Lands and Mines James Isaac Ramphal, Commissioner of Labour Nominated Unofficial Members (15) William John Raatgever, CBE (Deputy Speaker to 1st August, 1956) Theophilus Lee William Alfred Phang Lionel Alfred Luckhoo William Alexander Macnie, CMG, OBE (Deputy Speaker from 3.8.56) Charles Albert Carter Eugene Francis Correia Rev.
Douglas Campbell Josiah Bobb Hamid Rahaman Gertrude Hyacinth Collins Esther Elizabeth Dey Hugh Arthur Fraser 53 Lt. Col. Ernest James Haywood, MBE, TD.

Rupert Bramwell Jailal Sugrim Singh In January, 1954, the Members of the Constitutional Commission (Robertson) arrived in Guyana and commenced their work.

The People’s Progressive Party boycotted the Commission.
In September, 1954, the Constitutional Commission (Robertson) submitted its Report dated 1st September, 1954, to the Secretary of State for the Colonies.

On 13th February, 1955, The People’s Progressive Party was split into two factions: (i) (ii) The People’s Progressive Party (Jaganite) led by Cheddi Jagan, and The People’s Progressive Party (Burnhamite) led by Linden Forbes Sampson Burnham.

On 29th June, 1957, the Interim Legislative Council was dissolved.
1957 TO 1961 THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL (PPP MAJORITY) On 12th August, 1957, General Elections were held under the first-past-the- post system for 14 seats (14 Constituencies) in the Legislative Council.

The Legislative Council consisted of 24 Members: a Speaker, 3 Ex Officio Members, 14 Elected Members and 6 Nominated Members.
54 Four Political Parties contested the elections and won seats as follows:- PPP(J) 9 seats PPP(B) 3 seats NLF 1 seat UDP 1 seat On 21st August, 1957, Sir Donald Edward Jackson was appointed by the Governor, Sir Patrick Muir Renison, KCMG, to be Speaker of the new Legislative Council.

He was the Second Speaker and held the Office until 17th July, 1961.
The following were the First Members of the new Legislative Council:- Speaker (1) Sir Donald Edward Jackson Ex Officio Members (3) The Chief Secretary, Francis Derek Jakeway, CMG, OBE.

The Attorney General, Anthony Mordaunt Innis Austin The Financial Secretary, Francis William Essex Elected Ministers (PPP)(J)) (5) Dr. Cheddi Jagan, Minister for Trade and Industry (PPP(J)) (No.1 – Eastern Berbice) Brindley Horatio Benn, Minister of Community Development and Education (PPP(J)) (No.
12 – Essequibo River) Edward Balkaran Beharry, Minister of Natural Resources (PPP(J)) (No.

5 – Eastern Demerara) Janet Jagan, Minister of Labour, Health and Housing (PPP(J)) (No.

13 – Western Essequibo) Ram Karran, 55 Minister of Communications and Works (PPP(J)) (No.

11 – Demerara- Essequibo) Other Elected Members (PPP(J)) (4) Fred Bowman (PPP(J)) (No.

10 – Demerara River) Balram Singh Rai (PPP(J)) (No.6 – Central Demerara) Sheik Mohamed Saffee (PPP(J)) (No.
4 – Western Berbice) Ajodha Singh (PPP(J)) (No.

3 – Berbice River) Other Elected Members (5) Linden Forbes Sampson Burnham (PPP(B)) (No.

8 – Georgetown Central) Andrew Leonard Jackson (PPP(B)) (No.

7 – Georgetown North) Jainarine Singh (PPP(B)) (No.

9 – Georgetown South) William Oscar Rudyard Kendall (UDP) (No.

2 – New Amsterdam) Stephen Campbell (NLF) (No.


14 – North Western District) Nominated Members (6) Rahman Baccus Gajraj (Deputy Speaker from 17th April, 1958) Rupert Clement Tello Robert Elliot Davis Anthony Martin Fredericks Henry Jocelyn Makepeace Hubbard Antony Greaves Tasker, OBE.

The Legislative Council held its First Meeting on 10th September, 1957.

At that Meeting, a Mace was put into use in the Legislature for the first time.
The Governor, Sir Patrick Muir Renison, KCMG, addressed the Legislative Council.

In October 1957, the People’s National Congress (PNC) led by Linden Forbes Sampson Burnham, was formed and replaced the Burnhamite Faction of the People’s Progressive Party (PPP(B)).

56 The United Democratic Party (UDP), led by John Carter, merged with the new People’s National Congress (PNC).

In 1961, the United Force (UF) was formed with Peter Stanislaus d’Aguiar as Leader.
On 18th July, 1961, the Legislative Council was dissolved.

On 18th July, 1961, a new Constitution – The Constitution of British Guiana – annexed to The British Guiana (Constitution) Order in Council, 1961, and made on 26th June, 1961, by Her Majesty by and with the advice of Her Privy Council – came into operation.

This new Constitution revoked the 1953 Constitutional Instruments and the amendments thereto.
Provision was made in the new Constitution for a Premier and a Council of Ministers (not called the Executive Council or the Cabinet).

Provision was also made for a two-chamber Legislature – a Senate and a Legislative Assembly.

The Senate was to consist of 13 Members.

The Legislative Assembly was to consist of a Speaker to be elected by the Assembly and 35 Members elected, under the system in operation, i.e., the first past the post system with 35 constituencies.
The Office of Premier was established by the 1961 Constitution.

57 1961 TO 1964 THE LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY AND THE SENATE (PPP ADMINISTRATION) On 21st August, 1961, General Elections were held, for the last time under the first-past-the-post system, for 35 seats in the Legislative Assembly.
The results were as follows:- (i) (ii) People’s Progressive Party 20 seats (42.6% of the votes) People’s National Congress 11 seats (41% of the votes) (iii) United Force 4 seats (16.2% of the votes) Full internal self government was granted.

The People’s Progressive Party formed the Government.

Cheddi Jagan (PPP) was appointed the First Premier.
The following were the First Members of the Legislative Assembly:- Speaker Rahman Baccus Gajraj People’s Progressive Party (20) Ministers (8) Dr. Cheddi Jagan, Premier and Minister of Development and Planning Brindley Horatio Benn, Minister of Natural Resources Ram Karran, Minister of Works and Hydraulics 58 Balram Singh Rai, Minister of Home Affairs Ranji Chandisingh, Minister of Labour, Health and Housing Dr. Charles Ramkissoon Jacob, Jnr., Minister of Finance Dr. Fenton Harcourt Wilworth Ramsahoye, Attorney-General Earl Maxwell Gladstone Wilson, Minister of Communications Parliamentary Secretaries (2) George Bowman, Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Natural Resources Lawrence Everil McRansford Mann, Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Works and Hydraulics Other Members (10) Sheik Mohamed Saffee George Lakey Robertson Moses Bhagwan John Bernard Caldeira Victor Downer Abdul Maccie Hamid George McLinton Henry Derek Chunilall Jagan Goberdhan Harry Lall Mohamed Shakoor People’s National Congress (11) Linden Forbes Sampson Burnham, QC William Oscar Rudyard Kendall, Deputy Speaker 59 John Carter Eugene Francis Correia Neville James Bissember William Alexander Blair Rudolph Stanislaus Stanley Hugh John Gabriel Joaquin Robert James Jordan Claude Alfonso Merriman Henry Milton Shakespeare Wharton United Force (4) Peter Stanislaus d’Aguiar Stephen Campbell Randolph Emanuel Cheeks Edward Eyre Melville The Legislative Assembly first met on 5th October, 1961.
Rahman Baccus Gajraj was elected by the Legislative Assembly to be the Speaker.

He was not an elected Member of the Assembly.

He was the Third Speaker, and the First Speaker to be elected by a Legislative body, and held the Office until 24th September, 1964.

The Speaker and Members made and subscribed the Oath at the First Sitting.
The following were the First Members of the Senate:- Ashton Chase Cyril Victor Too Chung Claude Christian Mooneer Khan Cedric Vernon Nunes Christina Ramjattan Herbert Thomas Anne Jardim 60 The First Meeting of the Senate was held on 5th October, 1961.

Ashton Chase was elected by the Senate to be President of the Senate.

Cyril Victor Too Chung was elected by the Senate to be Vice-President of the Senate.
The President and the other Members of the Senate made and subscribed the Oath at the First Sitting of the Senate.

The Ceremonial Opening of the new Legislative Assembly and the new Senate took place on 6th October, 1961, which was the Second Sitting of the Legislative Assembly and also the Second Sitting of the Senate.

The Governor, Sir Ralph Francis Alnwick Grey, KCMG, KCVO, OBE, addressed the Legislature.
In February 1962, His Royal Highness, Prince Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh, visited Guyana and addressed the Legislative Assembly.

On 28th May, 1963, by a Resolution of the Legislative Assembly, Cheddi Jagan, Premier and Minister of Development and Planning, and three other Members of the Assembly, were suspended, for refusing to apologise for discourteous conduct at the previous sitting of the Assembly.

On 23rd January, 1964, Bharrat Jagdeo (PPP) (the Present and Seventh President) was born.
In 1964, the Constitution was amended.

Provision was made for a single chamber legislative body – called the House of Assembly and consisting of 53 Members to be elected for the first time under the system of proportional representation.

On 25th September, 1964, the Legislature was dissolved.
61 1964 TO 1966 THE HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY (PNC AND UF ADMINISTRATION) On 7th December, 1964, General Elections were held, for the first time under the system of proportional representation, and for the first time for 53 seats in the House of Assembly.
Seven Political Parties contested the elections and received votes and were allocated seats as follows:- People’s Progressive Party 109,332 votes 24 seats (Cheddi Jagan) People’s National Congress 96,657 votes 22 seats (Linden Forbes Sampson Burnham) United Force 29,612 votes 7 seats (Peter Stanislaus d’Aguiar) Justice Party (Balram Singh Rai) 1,334 votes 0 seats Guyana United Muslim Party 1,194 votes 0 seats (Mohamed Hoosain Ganie) Peace, Equality & Prosperity Party 224 votes 0 seats (Kelvin Wesley DeFreitas) National Labour Front 177 votes 0 seats (Cecil Gray) Total valid votes 238,530 Total seats 53 62 The People’s National Congress (with 22 seats) and the United Force (with 7 seats) formed the Government.
On 14th December, 1964, Linden Forbes Sampson Burnham (PNC) was appointed Premier.
The following were the First Members of the House of Assembly:- Speaker Aubrey Percival Alleyne (PNC) Members of the Government (28) Ministers (13) (PNC & UF) Linden Forbes Sampson Burnham, QC, Premier, Minister of Development and Planning and Attorney General (PNC) Dr. Ptolemy Alexander Reid, Minister of Home Affairs (PNC) Neville James Bissember, Minister of Health and Housing (PNC) Randolph Emanuel Cheeks, Minister of Local Government (UF) Eugene Francis Correia, Minister of Communications (PNC) Peter Stanislaus d’Aguiar, Minister of Finance (UF) Mrs. Winifred Gaskin, Minister of Education, Youth, Race Relations & Community Development (PNC) C.M.
Llewellyn John, Minister of Agriculture (PNC) Robert James Jordan, Minister of Forests, Lands and Mines (PNC) Mohamed Kasim, 63 Minister of Works and Hydraulics (UF) William Oscar Rudyard Kendall, Minister of Trade and Industry (PNC) Deoroop Mahraj, Minister without Portfolio (PNC) Claude Alfonso Merriman, Minister of Labour and Social Security (PNC) Parliamentary Secretary (1) Stephen Campbell, Parliamentary Secretary, Ministry of Home Affairs (UF) Other Members (14) (PNC & UF) David Brandis deGroot (PNC) William Alexander Blair (PNC) Jagnarine Budhoo (PNC) Charles Frederick Chan-A-Sue (PNC) Oscar Eleazar Clarke (PNC) Royden George Basil Field-Ridley (PNC) John Gabriel Joaquin (PNC) Hari Prashad (UF) Thomas Anson Sancho (PNC) Rupert Clement Tello, Deputy Speaker (UF) James Henry Thomas (PNC) Cyril Victor Too Chung (UF) Rev.
Alex Benjamin Trotman (PNC) Henry Milton Shakespeare Wharton (PNC) Members of the Opposition (24)(PPP) Dr. Cheddi Jagan Brindley Horatio Benn Ram Karran Ranji Chandisingh Henry Jocelyn Makepeace Hubbard 64 Dr. Charles Ramkissoon Jacob, Jr. Cedric Vernon Nunes Dr. Fenton Harcourt Wilworth Ramsahoye Earl Maxwell Gladstone Wilson George Bowman Sheik Mohamed Saffee Ashton Chase Moses Bhagwan John Bernard Caldeira Abdul Maccie Hamid Derek Chunilall Jagan Goberdhan Harry Lall Yacoob Ally Lloyd Linde Joseph Rudolph Spenser Luck Reepu Daman Persaud Mohendernauth Poonai Dr. Subhan Ali Ramjohn Eugene Martin Stoby The House of Assembly held its first meeting on 31st December, 1964.
The Members of the PPP did not attend the First Sitting.

Aubrey Percival Alleyne (PNC), an elected Member of the House of Assembly, was elected by the House of Assembly to be the Speaker.

Immediately after his election, he resigned as a Member of the House of Assembly, and thereupon vacated the Office of Speaker.

He was then re-elected as Speaker.

He was the Fourth Speaker.


The vacancy in the House of Assembly was filled by Philip Duncan, another PNC Member, who made and subscribed the Oath in the Assembly on 27th January, 1965.

65 The Ceremonial Opening took place on 29th March, 1965.

The Governor, Sir Richard Edmonds Luyt, KCMG, DCM, addressed the Assembly.

On 18th May, 1965, the Members of the PPP attended the Assembly and made and subscribed the Oath.

.
.

In 1965, an amendment to the Constitution provided for the Office of Prime Minister, in the place of Premier.

Linden Forbes Sampson Burnham (PNC), who was the Premier, became the First Prime Minister.

On 26th January, 1966, the Flag for an Independent Guyana, which was designed by Whitney Smith, Director of the Flag Centre, Florida, USA, was approved by the House of Assembly.

In February, 1966, Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II visited British Guiana.
On 25th February, 1966, the Coat of Arms for an Independent Guyana, which was designed by Edward Burrowes, Stanley Greaves and Alvin Bowman, and which was selected on the recommendation of the National History and Arts Council and approved by the College of Arms in England, was accepted by the House of Assembly.

On 21st April, 1966, the music for the Guyana National Anthem, which was composed by Robert Cyril Gladstone Potter, was approved by the House of Assembly.
66 1966 TO 1968 THE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY OF THE FIRST PARLIAMENT OF GUYANA (PNC AND UF ADMINISTRATION) On 26th May, 1966, British Guiana attained Independence as Guyana.

A new Constitution came into operation.

The Office of Governor-General replaced the Office of Governor.

The Governor, Sir Richard Edmonds Luyt, KCMG, DCM, became the First Governor-General.

The House of Assembly became the National Assembly of the First Parliament of Guyana.
The Members of the House of Assembly became the Members of the new National Assembly of the First Parliament of Guyana.

The Office of the Legislature was renamed the Parliament Office.

Two new Offices of Clerk of the National Assembly and Deputy Clerk of the National Assembly were established by the Constitution, outside of the Public Service, and replaced the Public Service Offices of Clerk of the Legislature and Assistant Clerk of the Legislature.
The designation “Marshal” was changed to “Sergeant-at-Arms”.

During 1966, Sir Richard Edmonds Luyt, KCMG, DCM, Governor-General, left Guyana and Sir Kenneth Sievewright Stoby acted as Governor-General.

.

On 4th June, 1966, the Government published a Notice designating Members of the National Assembly as Members of Parliament, with the letters “M.P.” after their names.
On 15th November, 1966, a Speaker’s Chair was presented as an Independence Gift from the Government and People of India to the Parliament of Guyana.

67 From 17th December, 1966 to 1969, Sir David James Gardiner Rose, GCMG, CVO, MBE, was the Governor-General.

He was killed in an accident in London on 10th November, 1969.

On 4th August, 1967, the Speaker of the National Assembly, Aubrey Percival Alleyne, died.
On 16th February, 1968, Rahman Baccus Gajraj was elected by the National Assembly to be the Fifth Speaker of the National Assembly.

On 22nd October, 1968, a Clerks’ Table, three Clerks’ Chairs and a Sergeant- at-Arms’ Chair were presented as Independence Gifts from the British House of Commons to the Parliament of Guyana.

On 5th November, 1968, the First Parliament of Guyana was dissolved.
1969 TO 1973 THE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY OF THE SECOND PARLIAMENT OF GUYANA (PNC ADMINISTRATION) Elections for the 53 seats in the National Assembly of the Second Parliament of Guyana were held on 16th December, 1968, under the system of proportional representation.

Seats were allocated as follows:- PNC 30 seats PPP 19 seats UF 4 seats 68 The People’s National Congress formed the Government.

Linden Forbes Sampson Burnham (PNC) became the Prime Minister.
The Second Parliament commenced when the National Assembly first met on 3rd January, 1969.

The following were the First Members of the National Assembly:- Speaker of the National Assembly Rahman Baccus Gajraj, CBE, JP.
(a) Members of the Government People’s National Congress (30) (i) Elected Ministers (4) Linden Forbes Sampson Burnham, Q.C., Prime Minister Dr. Ptolemy Alexander Reid, Minister of Finance Robert James Jordan, Minister of Agriculture and Natural Resources Mohamed Kasim, Minister of Communications (ii) Non-Elected Ministers (3) Shridath Surendranath Ramphal, CMG, QC.
Attorney General and Minister of State Martin Wylde Carter, Minister of Information Hamilton Green, Minister of Works and Hydraulics 69 (iii) Other Members (26) Joseph NathanielAaron Margaret Matilda Ackman Kenneth Berkeley Bancroft Neville James Bissember Jagnarine Budhoo Winslow George Carrington Leonard Ignatius Chan-A-Sue Oscar Eleazer Clarke, Deputy Speaker Eugene Francis Correia Malcolm Corrica Philip Duncan Eugene Hugh Allan Fowler William Haynes Hugh Desmond Hoyte John Gabriel Joaquin, OBE, JP Clifton Mortimer Llewellyn John Patricia Anita Limerick Shirley Merle Patterson Bishwaishwar Ramsaroop Sheik Mohamed Saffee Abdul Salim David Arthur Singh Jeffrey Ronald Thomas Ralph Chesterfield Van Sluytman Conrad Egerton Wrights Mohamed Zaheeruddeen, JP (b) Members of the Opposition (23) (i) People’s Progressive Party (19) Dr. Cheddi Jagan, Leader of the Opposition Ranji Chandisingh Earl Maxwell Gladstone Wilson 70 Ram Karran Dr. Fenton Harcourt Wilworth Ramsahoye Derek Chunilall Jagan Mohamed Yacoob Ally Reepu Daman Persaud, JP Eugene Stoby Goberdhan Harry Lall Abdul Maccie Hamid, JP Ivan Remington Bhola Persaud Vincent Teekah Regina Philomena Sahoye Roshan Ally Edgar Lealand Ambrose Balchand Persaud Lilian Maud Branco (ii) United Force (4) Peter Stanislaus d’Aguiar Randolph Emanuel Cheeks Marcellus Feilden Singh Cyril Victor Too-Chung Rahman Baccus Gajraj was elected to be the Fifth Speaker.
Oscar Eleazer Clarke (PNC) was elected Deputy Speaker.

The Ceremonial Opening the Second Parliament took place at the 2nd Sitting of the National Assembly on 4th February, 1969.

The Governor-General of Canada, Roland Michener, and Mrs. Michener, visited the Parliament on 17th February, 1969.

71 In April, 1969, following the recommendation of a Representative Committee of the National Assembly, the shirt jac was introduced as an alternative form of dress for male Members of the Assembly.
The full-bottomed wig and the ceremonial gown which were used by the Speaker and the bob wigs and gowns which were used by the Clerks, on ceremonial occasions, and the bob wig and gown which were used by the Speaker on all other occasions, were no longer used.

On 19th June, 1969, the Standing Orders of the National Assembly were approved by the Assembly.

On 10th November, 1969, Sir David Rose, the Governor-General, was killed in an accident in London.
Edward Victor Luckhoo acted as Governor-General from 1969 to 1970.

On 23rd February, 1970, Guyana became a Republic and ceased to be part of Her Majesty’s dominions, but continued to be a Member of the Commonwealth.

Arthur Chung, OE, was elected by the National Assembly to be the First President.

On 4th January, 1971, Sase Narain was elected to be the Sixth Speaker.
On 14th May, 1973, a new Public Address system with microphones and loudspeakers was presented to the Parliament of Guyana by the German Democratic Republic.

In 1973, the voting age was lowered from 21 years to 18 years.

On 7th June, 1973, the Second Parliament of Guyana was dissolved.
72 1973 TO 1980 THE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY OF THE THIRD PARLIAMENT OF GUYANA (PNC ADMINISTRATION) Elections were held on Monday, 16th July, 1973, under the system of proportional representation for 53 Members of the National Assembly.

Votes were received and seats were allocated as follows:- PNC PPP LP PDM 243,803 votes 92,374 votes 9,580 votes 2,053 votes 37 seats 14 seats 2 seats 0 seat The Third Parliament of Guyana commenced when the National Assembly first met on 26th July, 1973.
The PPP did not attend and participate in the work of Parliament until 24th May, 1976.

The following were the first Members of the National Assembly of the Third Parliament:- Speaker Sase Narain, JP Members of the Government – People’s National Congress (49) L.F.S.

Burnham, OE, SC, Prime Minister Dr. P.A.

Reid, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Development and Agriculture 73 Senior Ministers (7) H.D.
Hoyte, SC, Minister of Works and Communications S.S. Ramphal, SC, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Justice (Non-Elected Minister) H. Green, Minister of Co-operatives and National Mobilisation (Non- Elected Minister) H.O.

Jack, Minister of Energy and Natural Resources (Non-Elected Minister) F. E. Hope, Minister of Finance (Non-Elected Minister) Dr. K.F.S.

King, Minister of Economic Development (Non-Elected Minister) S.S. Naraine, AA, Minister of Housing (Non-Elected Minister) Ministers (5) W.G.
Carrington, Minister of Labour S.M.

Field-Ridley, Minister of Information and Culture B. Ramsaroop, Minister of Parliamentary Affairs and Leader of the House C.L.

Baird, Minister of Education (Non-Elected Minister) Dr. O.M.R.

Harper, Minister of Health (Non-Elected Minister) Ministers of State (9) M. Kasim, AA, Minister of State (Agriculture) O.E.

Clarke, Minister of State (East Berbice/Corentyne) P. Duncan, JP, Minister of State (Rupununi) C.A.
Nascimento, Minister of State (Office of the Prime Minister) M. Zaheeruddeen, JP, Minister of State (Essequibo Islands/West Demerara) C.V. Mingo, Minister of State (Internal Security) (Non-Elected Minister) W. Haynes, Minister of State (Mazaruni/Potaro) (Non-Elected Minister) A. Salim, Minister of State (East Demerara/West Coast Berbice) (Non-Elected Minister) F.U.A.
Carmichael, Minister of State (North West) (Non-Elected Minister) Parliamentary Secretaries (8) J.R. Thomas, Parliamentary Secretary, Ministry of Housing C.E.

Wrights, JP, Parliamentary Secretary, Ministry of Works and Communications 74 M.M.

Ackman, Parliamentary Secretary, Office of the Prime Minister, and Government Chief Whip E.L. Ambrose, Parliamentary Secretary (Agriculture), Ministry of National Development and Agriculture K.B.
Bancroft, Parliamentary Secretary (Hinterland), Ministry of National Development and Agriculture S. Prashad, Parliamentary Secretary, Ministry of Co-operatives and National Mobilisation J.P. Chowritmootoo, Parliamentary Secretary, Ministry of Education R.H.O.

Corbin, Parliamentary Secretary, Ministry of Co-operatives and National Mobilisation Other Members (18) J.N.

Aaron L.M.

Branco M. Corrica E.H.A.

Fowler J. Gill W. Hussain S. Jaiserrisingh K.M.E.

Jonas M. Nissar L.E.

Ramsahoye J.G.


Ramson P. Rayman E.M. Stoby, JP S.H.

Sukhu C. Sukul H.A.

Taylor R.C.

Van Sluytman L.E.

Willems 75 Members of the Opposition – Liberator Party (2) G. Kumar M.F.

Singh, Deputy Speaker Sase Narain was elected Speaker of the National Assembly, and M.F.

Singh (LP) was elected Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly.

Members made and subscribed the Oath.


The Ceremonial Opening of the Fifth Parliament took place at the 11th Sitting of the National Assembly on 29th October, 1973.

The President, Arthur Chung, OE, addressed the Assembly.

On 14th March, 1974, Marcellus Feilden Singh (LP) resigned as Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly and was appointed Leader of the Opposition.

On 28th March, 1974, Ralph Chesterfield Van Sluytman (PNC) was elected Deputy Speaker.
On 11th July, 1975, the Standing Orders of the National Assembly were amended to allow the use of the title “Comrade” in the National Assembly before a Member’s surname or official designation.

On 12th March, 1976, Arthur Chung, OE, was re-elected by the National Assembly and was sworn in as President for a second term.

On 20th May, 1976, R.C.

Van Sluytman (PNC) resigned as Deputy Speaker.

On 24th May, 1976, the Members from the PPP attended the National Assembly and made and subscribed the Oath.
Ram Karran (PPP) was elected Deputy Speaker.

On 31st May, 1976, the appointment of Marcellus Feilden Singh (LP) as 76 Leader of the Opposition was revoked.

Cheddi Jagan (PPP) was appointed Leader of the Opposition.
The following were the 14 Members from the PPP:- Dr. C. Jagan, Leader of the Opposition Ram Karran, Deputy Speaker Narbada Persaud Clinton Collymore Janet Jagan Sheik Feroze Mohamed Reepu Daman Persaud Lallbachan Lalbahadur Basil James Cyril Calvin Belgrave Roshan Ally Dalchand, JP Dindayal Harry Persaud Nokta On 10th July, 1978, a referendum was held in Guyana.
On 21st July, 1978, a Constituent Assembly, comprising all Members of the National Assembly, was established by the Assembly to prepare a new Constitution for Guyana.

The Members from the PPP did not participate in the work of the Constituent Assembly.

In February, 1980, the Constituent Assembly presented its Report to the National Assembly.

77 The new Constitution was set out in Act No.


2 of 1980, which was passed by the National Assembly on 14th February, 1980, and assented to by the President on 20th February, 1980.

On 6th October, 1980, the new Constitution came into operation.

Arthur Chung ceased to be President.

Linden Forbes Sampson Burnham became the First President with executive powers.

On 25th October, 1980, the Third Parliament was dissolved.
1980 TO 1985 THE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY OF THE FOURTH PARLIAMENT OF GUYANA (PNC ADMINISTRATION) Elections were held on Monday, 15th December, 1980, under the system of proportional representation for 65 Members of the National Assembly.

The 65 seats were allocated as follows:- PNC PPP UF 53 10 2 From the General Elections To be elected by and from the National Congress of Local Democratic Organs To be elected by and from the Regional Democratic Councils (1 Member each) 53 2 10 78 The PNC formed the Government.
The following were the first Members of the National Assembly:- Speaker Sase Narain, OR, JP Members of the Government – People’s National Congress (69) Prime Minister (1) Dr. Ptolemy Alexander Reid, OE Other Vice-Presidents (4) Shiw Sahai Naraine, AA, (Works and Transport) Hugh Desmond Hoyte, SC (Economic Planning and Finance) Hamilton Green (Public Welfare) Bishwaishwar Ramsaroop (Parliamentary Affairs and Party/State Relations) Senior Ministers (10) Ranji Chandisingh (Higher Education) Oscar Eleazer Clarke (Regional Development) Robert Herman Orlando Corbin (National Development) Franklin Eleazar Hope (Trade and Consumer Protection) (Non-Elected Minister) Hubert Oliver Jack (Energy and Mines) (Non-Elected Minister) Dr. Mohamed Shahabuddeen, OR, SC, Attorney General (Justice) (Non- Elected Minister) Rashleigh Esmond Jackson (Foreign Affairs) (Non-Elected Minister) Joseph Adolphus Tyndall, AA (Agriculture) (Non-Elected Minister) Stanley Alfred Moore (Home Affairs) (Non-Elected Minister) Jeffrey Ronald Thomas (Education) (Non-Elected Minister) Ministers (13) Joshua Peter Chowritmootoo, JP (Environment and Water Supply, in the 79 Ministry of Public Welfare) Urmia Eleanor Johnson (Co-operatives) Jean Narinee Maitland-Singh (Consumer Protection, in the Ministry of Trade and Consumer Protection) Seeram Prashad (Crops and Livestock, in the Ministry of Agriculture) Sallahuddin (Finance, in the Ministry of Economic Planning and Finance) Robert Edward Williams (Fisheries, in the Ministry of Agriculture) Christopher
 Anthony Nascimento (Mechanical Equipment, in the Ministry of Works and Transport) (Non-Elected Minister) Frank Ulan August Campbell (Information) (Non-Elected Minister) Fitz Uriel Alexander Carmichael (Forestry, in the Ministry of Agriculture) (Non-Elected Minister) Yvonne Veronica Harewood-Benn (Public Service) (Non-Elected Minister) Harun Rashid (Office of the President) (Non-Elected Minister) Ralph Chesterfield Van Sluytman (Drainage and Irrigation, in the Ministry of Agriculture) (Non-Elected Minister)
 Richard Alexander Van West-Charles (Health, in the Ministry of Public Welfare) (Non-Elected Minister) Ministers of State (3) Malcolm Corrica (Culture, in the Ministry of Education) Roy Clifton Fredericks, AA (Sport and Youth, in the Ministry of National Development) Conrad Egerton Wright (Construction, in the Ministry of Works and Transport) (Non-Elected Minister) Parliamentary Secretaries (3) Agnes Winifred Bend-Kirton (Women’s Affairs and Housing) Philomena Ameena Rayman (Office of the Prime Minister) Edith Myrtle Bynoe (Office of the Prime Minister) (Non-Elected Member) Other Members (23) Donald Alfred Nicholas Ainsworth 80 Mohamed Ally Milton Armogan Bissoondai Beniprashad Basdeo Bhaggan Joseph Bernard Caldeira Allan Albert Chin Elaine Beatrice Davidson Harry Doobay Abel Benjamin Felix Eugene Hugh Allan Fowler Patricia Fredericks Eugene Fitzpatrick Gilbert Joyce Gill Albert McRae Joyce Myrtleen Munroe Ryburn Nathaniel Primo Chintaman Gowkarran Sharma Harold Lall Bahadur Singh Sydney Hansel Sukhu, MS Bidiawattie Tiwari Calvin Vandenburg Huldah Benomi Walcott, JP, Government Chief Whip Members from the National Congress of Local Democratic Organs (2) Rudy Bishop, MS Bhagmatee Latchminarayan Members from the Regional Democratic Councils (10) Kenneth Nathaniel Jones (Region 1 - Barima/Waini) Khelanand Vishvaykanand Jairam (Region 2 - Pomeroon/Supenaam) Cora Agnes Singh (Region 3 - Essequibo Islands/West Demerara) Walter Bipat (Region 4 - Demerara/Mahaica) Howard
 Ivan London, MS (Region 5 - Mahaica/Berbice) 81 Isaac Chowritmootoo (Region 6 – East Berbice/Corentyne) Nellie Rowena Charles (Region 7 - Cuyuni/Mazaruni) Dianne Abraham (Region 8 - Potaro/Siparuni) Abel Dorrick (Region 9 – Upper Takutu/Upper Essequibo) Denzil Hinds (Region 10 - Upper Demerara/Berbice) Members of the Minority (12) (i) People’s Progressive Party (10) Cheddi Jagan, Minority Leader Ram Karran, Deputy Speaker Janet Jagan Reepu Daman Persaud, JP, Minority Chief Whip Narbada Persaud Clinton
 Collymore Sheik Feroze Mohamed Isahak Basir Cyril Calvin Belgrave Dalchand, JP (ii) United Force (2) Marcellus Feilden Singh, JP Michael Anthony Abraham The Fourth Parliament of Guyana commenced when the National Assembly first met on 30th January, 1981.
Sase Narain was elected by the National Assembly to be Speaker of the National Assembly, and Ram Karran (PPP) was elected to be Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly.

The Ceremonial Opening of the Fourth Parliament took place at the second sitting of the National Assembly on 9th February, 1981.

The President, Linden Forbes Sampson Burnham (PNC), addressed the National Assembly.

In 1981, Guyana became a Member of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU).
82 On 6th August, 1985, Linden Forbes Sampson Burnham (PNC) (the Second President and the First Executive President) died.

Hugh Desmond Hoyte (PNC), Prime Minister, became the Third President of Guyana.

Hamilton Green (PNC) was appointed Prime Minister.

On 31st October, 1985, the Fourth Parliament was dissolved.

1985 TO 1992 THE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY OF THE FIFTH PARLIAMENT OF GUYANA (PNC ADMINISTRATION) Elections were held on Monday, 9th December, 1985.
The 65 seats in the National Assembly were allocated as follows:- PNC PPP UF WPA 54 seats 8 seats 2 seats 1 seat From the General Elections 53 To be elected by and from the National Congress of Local Democratic Organs 2 To be elected by and from the Regional Democratic Councils (1 Member each) 10 With the Speaker (1), who was not an elected Member of the National Assembly, the Elected Members (65), the Non-Elected Ministers (6), and the Non-Elected Parliamentary Secretary, the National Assembly consisted of 73 persons 83 The following are the First Members (73) of the National Assembly of the Fifth Parliament:- Speaker (1) Sase Narain, OR., SC, JP Members of the Government – People’s National Congress (61) Ministers in the Cabinet (10) Prime Minister (1) Hamilton Green, Prime Minister Other Vice-President and First Deputy Prime Minister (1) Dr. Mohamed Shahabuddeen, OR, SC, Vice-President, First Deputy Prime Minister and Attorney General Other Vice-Presidents and Deputy Prime Ministers (2) Ranji Chandisingh, Vice-President, National Mobilisation, and Deputy Prime Minister Viola Victorine Burnham, OR, Vice-President, Education and Social Development, and Deputy Prime Minister Other Deputy Prime Ministers (2) William Arnold Lennox Haslyn Parris, CCH, Deputy Prime Minister, Planning and Development Robert Herman Orlando Corbin, Deputy Prime Minister, Agriculture Senior Ministers (4) Rashleigh Esmond Jackson, Minister of Foreign Affairs Carl Barrington Greenidge, Minister of Finance (Non-Elected Minister) Seeram
 Prashad, Minister of Transport Winston Shripal Murray, C.C.H., Minister of Trade (Non-Elected Minister) 84 Other Ministers (11) Senior Ministers (3) Jeffrey Ronald Thomas, Minister of Manpower, Housing and Environment Dr. Richard Alexander Van West-Charles, Minister of Health Yvonne Veronica Harewood-Benn, Minister of Information and the Public Service Ministers (4) Urmia Eleanor Johnson, Minister within the Ministry of National Mobilisation Roy Clifton Fredericks, Minister of Youth and Sport within the Ministry of Education (Non-Elected Minister) Chintaman Gowkarran Sharma, AA, JP, Minister within the Office of the President D. Bernard, Minister within the Ministry of Education (Non-Elected Minister) Ministers of State (4) Donald Alfred Nicholas Ainsworth, Minister of State within the Ministry of Manpower, Housing and Environment (Non-Elected Minister) Jailall Tiwari Kissoon, Minister of State within the Ministry of Agriculture Dharamdeo Sawh, Minister of State within the Ministry of Forestry Dr.
Faith Azalea Harding, Minister of State within the Ministry of Planning and Development (Non-Elected Minister) Parliamentary Secretaries (3) Azamudeen Habibulla, Parliamentary Secretary, Office of the President Stella Odie-Ali, Parliamentary Secretary, Home Affairs Jean Marjorie Gloria Persico, Parliamentary Secretary, Education (Non- Elected Member) Government Chief Whip (1) Jennifer A Ferreira, Government Chief Whip 85 Other Members (24) Robert E Williams Agnes W Bend-Kirton-Holder Eugene H. Fowler Joyce Gill-Mingo M. Ally Bissoondai Beniprashad-Rayman Elaine B. Davidson Harry Doobay Joyce M. Munroe Edwina Melville Amna Ally Lennox Arthur James Bovell-Drakes Neville Calistro Ginewing Chin Mortimer Cumberbatch Mohamed Idris Deen Cyrilda A. DeJesus Edith Deygoo Clarice A. Edwards Claude L. Geddes George Marshall Basil Persaud Enerva Trotman Members from the National Congress of Local Democratic Organs (2) E. Mohamed Rose I. Semple Members from the Regional Democratic Councils (10) Nellie R. Charles (Region 7 – Cuyuni/Mazuruni) R. Bishop, MS (Region 4 – Demerara/Mahaica) 86 Bhagmatee Latchminarayan (Region5 – Mahaica/Berbice) Y. Khan (Region 2 – Pomeroon/Supenaam) Enid B. Abrahams, MS, JP (Region 3 – Essequibo Islands/West Demerara) I.
Ally (Region 6 – East Berbice/Corentyne) Patricia Daniel (Region 10 – Upper Demerara/Berbice) B. L. Domingo (Region 1 – Barima/Waini) S.I.

McGarrell (Region 8 – Potaro/Siparuni) M. Stephens (Region 9 – Upper Takutu/Upper Essequibo) Members of the Minority (11) (i) People’s Progressive Party (8) Dr. C. Jagan, Minority Leader Reepu Daman Persaud, JP, Deputy Speaker Janet Jagan S.F.

Mohamed C.C.

Collymore H. Nokta I. Basir C.C.

Belgrave (ii) United Force (2) M.F.

Singh, CCH, JP M.A.
Singh, CCH, JP M.A.

Abraham (iii) Working People’s Alliance (1) Eusi Kwayana On 12th December, 1985, Hugh Desmond Hoyte (PNC) was declared elected and was sworn in as President, in the Parliament Chamber, Public Buildings, Georgetown.

87 On 13th December, 1985, Hamilton Green (PNC) was appointed and was sworn in as Prime Minister.

The Fifth Parliament commenced when the National Assembly first met on 3rd February, 1986.
Sase Narain, OR, SC, JP, was elected to be Speaker, and Reepu Daman Persaud, JP (PPP) was elected to be Deputy Speaker.

The Ceremonial Opening took place at the second sitting of the National Assembly on 4th February, 1986.

The President, Hugh Desmond Hoyte (PNC) addressed the National Assembly.
On 16th July, 1986, the Standing Orders of the National Assembly were, by a Resolution of the Assembly, amended to provide, for the first time for an annual recess for the National Assembly from 10th August to 10th October.

On 4th March, 1989, the President of Venezuela, Jose Sarney, addressed the National Assembly at a Special Sitting.

On 20th March, 1989, the President of Suriname addressed the National Assembly at a Special Sitting.
On 29th August, 1992, the Fifth Parliament, whose life was extended from time to time from 3rd February, 1981, to 10th June, 1992, was dissolved.

88 1992 TO 1997 THE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY OF THE SIXTH PARLIAMENT OF GUYANA (PPP/C ADMINISTRATION) Elections were held on Monday, 5th October, 1992.
The numbers of seats won by the Political Parties were as follows:- From the General From the Regional Democratic From the Total Elections (53 Councils (10) NCLDO (2) (65) PPP/C PNC WPA TUF 28 23 1 1 7 3 1 1 36 26 2 1 On 9th October, 1992, Cheddi Jagan (PPP/C) was declared elected and was sworn in as President of Guyana, at State House, in Georgetown.

The PPP formed the Government.


In addition to the 65 Elected Members of the National Assembly, 6 persons who were not elected Members of the Assembly were appointed by the President to be Ministers and became Members of the Assembly.

Following a request by Frank A. Narain, Clerk of the National Assembly, the President, in a letter dated 16th December, 1992, informed him that it was agreed to make the Public Buildings available for Parliamentary matters only.
89 The Building was, from that time, placed under the administration of Frank A. Narain, Clerk of the National Assembly.

The Sixth Parliament commenced when the National Assembly first met on 17th December, 1992.

Derek Chunilall Jagan (PPP/C) was elected Speaker.

Arthur A. Alexander (PNC) was elected Deputy Speaker.

Members made and subscribed the Oath.

The President, Cheddi Jagan (PPP/C), addressed the National Assembly.
With the Speaker (1), the Elected Members (65), and the Non-elected Ministers (6), the Assembly consisted of 72 Members.
The following were the First Members (72) of the National Assembly:- Speaker of the National Assembly (1) Derek Chunilall Jagan, SC, JP Members of the Government – PPP/C (42) Samuel A Hinds, Prime Minister Reepu Daman Persaud, JP, Senior Minister of Agriculture (Leader of the House) S. Feroze Mohamed, Senior Minister of Home Affairs, (Government Chief Whip) Harripersaud Nokta, Senior Minister in the Ministry of Public Works, Communications and Regional Development Asgar Ally, Senior Minister of Finance (Non-elected Minister) Rev.
Dr. Ramnauth D.A.
Bisnauth, Senior Minister of Education and Cultural Development (Non-elected Minister) Bernard C. DeSantos, SC, Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs 90 (Non-elected Minister) Dr. Henry B. Jeffrey, Senior Minister of Labour, Human Services and Social Security (Non-elected Minister) Moses V. Nagamootoo, Senior Minister in the Office of the President Clement J. Rohee, Senior Minister of Foreign Affairs Gail Teixeira, Senior Minister of Health M. Shree Chan, Senior Minister of Trade, Tourism and Industry Janet Jagan Clinton C. Collymore, Minister in the Ministry of Agriculture Indranie Chandarpal, Minister in the Ministry of Labour, Human Services and Social Security F. Vibert DeSouza, Minister in the Ministry of Public Works, Communications and Regional Development George E. Fung-On, Minister in the Office of the President Cyril C. Belgrave Brindley H. Benn Fazil M. Ali Husman Alli Shaik K.Z.
Baksh Komal Chand Shirley V. Edwards Randolph Evans Dr. Hughley H. Hanoman Una James Alston A. Kissoon Dr. Moti Lall Khemraj Ramjattan Donald Ramotar Lawrence E. Rodney Pauline Sukhai Winslow M. Zephyr Khadim Bacchus (NCLDO) 91 Samad A. Baksh (Region 2 – Pomeroon/ Supenaam) Harrinarine Baldeo (Region 5 – Mahaica/Berbice) Joseph M. DeSouza (Region 1 – Barima/ Waini) Eugene La Cruz (Region 9 – Upper Takutu/Upper Essequibo) Bagot Paul (Region 8 – Potaro/Siparuni) Kum Karan Ramdass (Region 6 – East Berbice/Corentyne) Ramrattan a/k Balkarran (Region 3 – Essequibo Islands/West Demerara) Members of the Minority (29) (i) People’s National Congress (26) Hugh Desmond Hoyte, SC, Minority Leader Sase Narain, OR, SC, JP Robert H. O. Corbin Winston S. Murray, CCH Dr. Patrick L. McKenzie, AA Clarissa S. Riehl Dr. Kenneth F.S.
King Deryck M.A.

Bernard Dr.

Faith A. Harding Amna Ally Jean M.G.
Persico, AA Arthur A. Alexander, Deputy Speaker Simon H. Ng-See-Quan Dunstan Barrow David Subnauth Reynold David (Region 7 – Cuyuni/Mazaruni) Jennifer A. Ferreira Aftabuddin Ahamad Kenrick Tyndall Phillip Bynoe (Region 10 – Upper Demerara/Berbice) Andy Gouveia Hukumchand a/k Parag 92 Joan Richards Gwenneth A. Brouet John Fredericks Ivan Peters (Region 4 – Demerara/Mahaica) (ii) Working People’s Alliance (2) Dr. Clive Y. Thomas Matheson Williams (NCLDO) (iii) The United Force (1) Manzoor Nadir On 6th March, 1997, Cheddi Jagan (PPP/C), Fourth President, died.
Samuel Archibald Anthony Hinds (PPP/C), Prime Minister, assumed the Office of and became the Fifth President of Guyana.

On 17th March, 1997, Janet Jagan (PPP/C), was appointed by the President, Samuel Archibald Anthony Hinds (PPP/C), and was sworn in as Prime Minister and First Vice-President.

On 29th October, 1997, the Sixth Parliament was dissolved.

93 1997 TO 2001 THE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY OF THE SEVENTH PARLIAMENT OF GUYANA (PPP/C ADMINISTRATION) Elections were held on Monday, 15th December, 1997.
Seats for the 65 Elected Members of the National Assembly were allocated as follows:- PPP/C PNC TUF AFG 36 25 2 2 On 19th December, 1997, Janet Jagan (PPP/C) was declared to be elected and was sworn in as President.

The PPP/C formed the Government.

The Seventh Parliament of Guyana commenced when the National Assembly first met on 26th February, 1998.

Derek C. Jagan, CCH, SC (PPP/C) was elected to be Speaker, and Winslow M. Zephyr (PPP/C) was elected to be Deputy Speaker.
Ten persons who were not elected Members of the National Assembly were appointed by the President to be Ministers and became Non-elected Members of the Assembly.

Members made and subscribed the Oath.

The President, Janet Jagan, addressed the National Assembly.

With the Speaker (1), the Elected Members (65), and the Non-Elected Ministers (10), the National Assembly had 76 Members.
The 25 Members from the PNC who were declared elected, did not attend the first and subsequent Sittings of the Assembly and, in accordance with Articles 54 and 156(1)(b) of the Constitution and Standing Order No.

77, vacated their seats in the Assembly.

Their names were again extracted from the lists and they were again declared elected on 13th July, 1998.

They attended and made and subscribed the Oath on 15th July, 1998.
The following were the First Members (76) of the National Assembly of the Seventh Parliament:- Speaker (1) Derek C. Jagan, CCH, SC, JP (PPP/C) Members of the Government - People’s Progressive Party/Civic (46) Samuel A.A. Hinds, Prime Minister Reepu Daman Persaud, OR, JP, Minister of Agriculture and Parliamentary Affairs Clement J. Rohee, Minister of Foreign Affairs Bharrat Jagdeo, Minister of Finance Charles R. Ramson, SC, Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs (Non- Elected Minister) Rev.
Dr. Ramnauth D.A.
Bisnauth, Minister of Education (Non-Elected Minister) M. Shree Chan, Minister of Trade, Tourism and Industry Indranie Chandarpal, Minister of Human Services and Social Security (Non- Elected Minister) Clinton C. Collymore, Minister in the Ministry of Local Government (Non- Elected Minister) 95 F. Vibert DeSouza, Minister of Amerindian Affairs (Non-Elected Minister) George E. Fung-On, Minister of the Public Service (Non-Elected Minister) Dr. Henry B. Jeffrey, Minister of Health and Labour (Non-Elected Minister) Moses V. Nagamootoo, JP, Minister of Information Harripersaud Nokta, Minister of Local Government Satyadeow Sawh, Minister of Livestock and Fisheries (Non-Elected Minister) Gail Teixeira, Minister of Culture, Youth and Sports C. Anthony Xavier, Minister of Transport and Hydraulics (Non-Elected Minister) Shaik K.Z.
Baksh, Minister of Housing and Water (Non-Elected Minister) S. Feroze Mohamed Cyril C. Belgrave Donald R. Ramotar Fazil M. Ali Husman Alli Komal Chand, CCH, JP Navindranauth O. Chandarpal Bernard C. DeSantos, SC Shirley V. Edwards Dr. Hughley H. Hanoman Dr. Cheddi B. Jagan Alston A. Kissoon Dr. Moti Lall, CCH Odinga N. Lumumba Khemraj Ramjattan Hari Narayen Ramkarran, SC Dr. Leslie S. Ramsammy Lawrence E. Rodney Philomena Sahoye-Shury CCH, JP, Parliamentary Secretary, Ministry of Local Government Pauline R. Sukhai Winslow M. Zephyr, Deputy Speaker 96 Joseph M. DeSouza (Region 1 – Barima/Waini) Heeralall Mohan (Region 2 – Pomeroon/Supenaam) Ramratan (Region 3 – Essequibo Islands/West Demerara) Geoffrey A. Fraser (Region 5 – Mahaica/Berbice) Ramsundar Sankat, MS (Region 6 – East Berbice/Corentyne) Eustace S. Rodrigues, MS (National Congress of Local Democratic Organs) Kumkaran Ramdas (National Congress of Local Democratic Organs) Members of the Minority (29) (i People’s National Congress (25) H. Desmond Hoyte, SC, Leader of the Opposition Winston S. Murray, CCH Dunstan Barrow Clarissa S. Riehl E. Lance Carberry Dr.
Faith A. Harding Ivor Allen Kadim A. Khan Jean M.G.

Persico, AA Aubrey C. Norton Cyrilda A DeJesus Andy Goveia Deborah J.

Backer John S. DeFreitas Raphael G.C.

Trotman Dr. Dalgleish Joseph, MD Volda A. Lawrence Joseph L. Hamilton (Region 4 – Demerara/Mahaica) Sherwood A.J.
Lowe Andrew Hicks Neaz Subhan 97 Colin Bynoe Sandra M. Adams (Region 10 – Upper Demerara/Berbice) Kelly Andries (Region 7 – Cuyuni/Mazaruni) Milton L. Ganpatsingh (ii) The United Force (2) Manzoor Nadir Matthew R. Charlie (Region 9 – Upper Takutu/Upper Essequibo) (iii) Alliance for Guyana (2) Dr. Rupert Roopnaraine Albertino Peters (Region 8 – Potaro/Siparuni) On 8th August, 1999, Samuel Archibald Anthony Hinds (PPP/C) resigned as Prime Minister.
On 9th August, 1999, Bharrat Jagdeo (PPP/C), Minister of Finance, was appointed Prime Minister by the President, Janet Jagan (PPP/C).

On 11th August, 1999, Janet Jagan (PPP/C), resigned as President.

Bharrat Jagdeo (PPP/C), Prime Minister, assumed the Office of President.

Samuel Archibald Anthony Hinds (PPP/C), was appointed Prime Minister by the President, Bharrat Jagdeo (PPP/C).
On 19th April, 2000, the non-governmental Members of the National Assembly, under the Chairmanship of the Speaker of the National Assembly, Hari Narayen Ramkarran, SC (PPP/C) elected Hugh Desmond Hoyte (PNC) to be Leader of the Opposition.

On 27th August, 2000, the name of the People’s National Congress (PNC) was changed to People’s National Congress/Reform (PNC/R).

On 3rd September, 2000, a new political movement – Rise, Organise and 98 Rebuild Guyana (ROAR) – was launched, with Ravi Dev as its leader.
On 15th October, 2000, Derek Chunilall Jagan (PPP), Speaker of the National Assembly, died.

Winslow Martin Zephyr (PPP/C) was elected to be Speaker.

On 15th February, 2001, the Seventh Parliament was dissolved.

2001 TO 2006 THE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY OF THE EIGHTH PARLIAMENT OF GUYANA (PPP/C WITH TUF ADMINISTRATION) Elections were held on Monday, 19th March, 2001.

On 23rd March, 2001, Bharrat Jagdeo (PPP/C) was declared elected President and assumed the Office of President.
He took and subscribed the Oath of Office on 31st March, 2001, and entered upon the duties of the Office of President.

The 25 Geographical seats and the 40 National Top Up seats, for a total of 65 Elected Members of the National Assembly, were allocated as follows:- Geographical National Total Top Up PPP/C 11 23 34 PNC/R 13 14 27 GAP/WPA 1 1 2 TUF - 1 1 ROAR - 1 1 99 .The PPP/C (34 Members), together with TUF (1 Member), formed the Government.
The First Sitting of the National Assembly was held on 4th May, 2001.
The First Members of the National Assembly of the Eighth Parliament were as follows:- Speaker (1) Hari Narayen Ramkarran, SC Members of the Government (37) (34 PPP Elected Members) ( 2 Non-Elected Ministers) ( 1 TUF Elected Member) Samuel Archibald Anthony Hinds, Prime Minister and Minister of Works and Communications Reepu Daman Persaud, OR, JP, Minister of Parliamentary Affairs Clement James Rohee, Minister of Foreign Trade and International Co- operation Harripersaud Nokta, Minister of Local Government and Regional Development Gail Teixeira, Minister of Culture, Youth and Sport Dr. Henry Benfield Jeffrey, Minister of Education Saisnarine Kowlessar, Minister of Finance Shaik K. Z. Baksh, Minister of Housing and Water Navindranauth Omanand Chandarpal, Minister of Agriculture Jairam Ronald Gajraj, Minister of Home Affairs Rev.
Dr. Ramnauth Dale Arlington Bisnauth, Minister of Labour, Human Services and Social Security Clinton Carlton Collymore, Minister in the Ministry of Local Government and Regional Development Satyadeow Sawh, Minister of Fisheries, Other Crops and Livestock Samuel Rudolph Insanally, OR, CCH, Minister in the Office of the President with responsibility for Foreign Affairs (Non-Elected Minister) 100 Doodnauth Singh, SC, Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs (Non- Elected Minister) Dr. Jennifer Reginalda Ann Westford, Minister of the Public Service Carl Anthony Xavier, Minister of Transport and Hydraulics Bibi Safora Shadick, Minister in the Ministry of Labour, Human Services and Social Security Manzoor Nadir, Minister of Tourism, Industry and Commerce (TUF Elected Member) Carolyn Rodrigues, Minister of Amerindian Affairs Dr. Leslie S. Ramsammy, Minister of Health Sheik Feroze Mohamed, Government Chief Whip Cyril Calvin Lewis Belgrave, CCH, JP Donald Rabindranauth Ramotar Husman Alli, JP Komal Chand, CCH, JP Indranie Chandarpal Bernard Celestino DeSantos, SC Shirley Veronica Edwards, JP Odinga N. Lumumba Heeralall Mohan, JP Ramesh Chandra Rajkumar Kumkaran Ramdas, JP Khemraj Ramjattan Dr. Bheri Sygmond Ramsaran, MD Philomena Sahoye-Shury, CCH, JP, Parliamentary Secretary, Ministry of Housing and Water Pauline R. Sukhai Members of the Opposition (30) (i) People’s National Congress/Reform (27) Hugh Desmond Hoyte, SC, Leader of the Opposition Robert Herman Orlando Corbin 101 Winston Shripal Murray, CCH Clarissa
 Sabita Riehl, Deputy Speaker Everette Lancelot Carberry Ivor Allen Deborah Jan Backer Deryck Milton Alexander Bernard Cyril Stanley Ming Raphael Gregory Conwright Trotman Vincent Luther Alexander Andy Goveia Volda Ann Lawrence Dr. Dalgleish Joseph, MD Amna Ally Sandra Michelle Adams Jerome Khan Dr. George Aubrey Norton Myrna Elizabeth Neomi Peterkin James Kennedy McAllister Lurlene Anita Nestor Abdul Kadir, JP Ricky Khan Rajcoomarie Bancroft Nasir Ally, JP Judith David Genevieve Purvesta Roxanne Allen (ii) Guyana Action Party/Working People’s Alliance (2) Sheila Valerie.Agnes Holder Shirley Juliana Melville (iii) Rise, Organise and Rebuild Party (1) Ravindra Dev 102 At the First Sitting, the National Assembly elected Hari Narayen Ramkarran, SC (PPP/C), to be Speaker, and Clarissa Sabita Riehl (PNC/R) to be Deputy Speaker.
The President, Bharrat Jagdeo (PPP/C) addressed the National Assembly.

On 22nd December, 2002, Hugh Desmond Hoyte (PNC/R), Leader of the Opposition, died.

The Eighth Parliament was dissolved on 2nd May, 2006.

SINCE 2006 THE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY OF THE NINTH PARLIAMENT OF GUYANA (PPP/C WITH TUF ADMINISTRATION) Elections were held on Monday, 28th August, 2006.
The 25 Geographical seats and the 40 National Top Up seats, for a total of 65 Elected Members, were allocated as follows:- Geographical National Total Top Up 15 9 1 - - 21 36 13 22 4 5 1 1 1 1 PPP/C PNC/R-1G AFC GAP/ROAR TUF Bharrat Jagdeo (PPP/C) was declared elected as President.

103 The PPP/C (36 Members), together with TUF (1 Member), formed the Government.
In addition, the President also appointed 5 other persons – 2 as Ministers and 3 as Parliamentary Secretaries, who were not elected Members of the National Assembly.

With the Speaker, there is a total of 71 Members in the National Assembly.

The First Sitting of the National Assembly was held on 28th September, 2006.

The National Assembly elected Hari Narayen Ramkarran, SC (PPP/C), to be Speaker, and Clarissa Sabita Riehl (PNCR-1G) to be Deputy Speaker.

The Members made and subscribed the Oath.


The Members of the PNCR-1G were not present at the First sitting to make and subscribe the Oath.

The President, Bharrat Jagdeo (PPP/C) addressed the National Assembly.

At a Meeting held on 30th October, 2006, under the chairmanship of the Speaker, the non-governmental Members of the Assembly elected Robert Herman Orlando Corbin (PNCR-1G) to be Leader of the Opposition.
The following were the First Members (71) of the National Assembly of the Ninth Parliament:- Speaker (1) Hari N. Ramkarran, SC Members of the Government (42) (37 Elected, 5 Non-Elected) (i) People’s Progressive Party/Civic (41) (36 Elected, 5 Non-Elected) (ii) The United Force (1) 104 Samuel A.

A. Hinds (Region 10 – Upper Demerara/Upper Berbice), Prime Minister and Minister of Public Works and Communications Clement J. Rohee, Minister of Home Affairs Shaik K.Z.
Baksh, Minister of Education Dr. Henry B. Jeffrey, Minister of Foreign Trade and International Co-operation Dr. Leslie S. Ramsammy (Region 6 – East Berbice/Corentyne), Minister of Health Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett (Region 9 – Upper Takutu/Upper Essequibo), Minister of Amerindian Affairs Dr. Ashni K. Singh, Minister of Finance (Non-elected Minister) S. Rudolph Insanally, OR, CCH, Minister of Foreign Affairs (Non-elected Minister) Harry Narine Nawbatt, Minister of Housing and Water Robert M. Persaud, Minister of Agriculture Dr. Jennifer R.A. Westford (Region 7 – Cuyuni/Mazaruni), Minister of Public Service Kellawan Lall, Minister of Local Government and Regional Development Doodnauth Singh, SC, Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs (Non- elected Minister) Dr. Frank C.S.
Anthony, Minister of Culture, Youth and Sport Brindley H.R.
Benn, Minister of Transport and Hydraulics Manzoor Nadir, Minister of Labour (TUF) Priya D. Manickchand (Region 5 – Mahaica/Berbice), Minister of Human Services and Social Security Dr. Desrey Fox, Minister in the Ministry of Education Dr. Bheri S. Ramsaran, MD, Minister in the Ministry of Health Jennifer I Webster, Minister in the Ministry of Finance Manniram Prashad, Minister of Tourism, Industry and Commerce Donald Ramotar Gail Teixeira Harripersaud Nokta Indranie Chandarpal 105 Bibi S. Shadick (Region 3 – Essequibo Islands/West Demerara) Mohamed Irfaan Ali Albert Atkinson, JP (Region 8 – Potaro/Siparuni) Komal Chand, CCH (Region 3 – Essequibo Islands/West Demerara) Bernard C. DeSantos, SC (Region 4 – Demerara/Mahaica) Shirley V. Edwards, JP Mohamed F. Khan, JP Odinga N. Lumumba Moses V. Nagamootoo, JP Mohabir A. Nandlall Neendkumar, JP Steve P. Ninvalle, Parliamentary Secretary (Non-elected Member) Parmanand P. Persaud, JP (Region 2 – Pomeroon/Supenaam) Philomena Sahoye-Shury, CCH, JP, Parliamentary Secretary Pauline Sukhai, Parliamentary Secretary (Non-elected Member) Dharamkumar Seeraj Norman A. Whittaker (Region 1 – Barima/Waini) Members of the Opposition (28) (i) People’s National Congress Reform – One Guyana (22) Robert H. O. Corbin, Leader of the Opposition Winston Murray, CCH Clarissa S. Riehl, Deputy Speaker E. Lance Carberry, Chief Whip Deborah J.
Backer Anthony Vieira Basil Williams Dr. George A. Norton Volda A. Lawrence Keith Scott Amna Ally James McAllister 106 Dave D. Danny (Region 4 – Demerara/Mahaica) Aubrey C. Norton (Region 4 – Demerara/Mahaica) Ernest B. Elliot (Region 4 – Demerara/Mahaica) Judith David-Blair (Region 7 – Cuyuni/Mazaruni) Mervyn Williams (Region 3 – Essequibo Islands/West Demerara) Africo Selman Dr. John Austin (Region 6 – East Berbice/Corentyne) Jennifer Wade (Region 5 – Mahaica/Berbice) Vanessa Kissoon (Region 10 – Region 10 – Upper Demerara/Upper Berbice) Desmond Fernandes (Region 1 – Barima/Waini) (ii) Alliance For Change (5) Raphael G.C.
Trotman Khemraj Ramjattan Sheila V.A.

Holder Chantalle L. Smith (Region 4 – Demerara/Mahaica) David Patterson (iii) Guyana Action Party/Rise Organise and Rebuild (1) Everall N. Franklin 107 REFERENCES/SUGGESTIONS FOR FURTHER SHAHABUDDEEN, Mohamed – Constitutional Development in Guyana, 1621-1978, Guyana National Printers Limited (October 1978).

CLEMENT, SIR CECIL – A Constitutional History of British Guiana, Mac Millan, London 1971.
CONSTITUTIONS OF BRITISH GUIANA AND THE REPUBLIC OF GUYANA (including British Guiana Order(s) –in-Council) RECORDS/DOCUMENTS IN GUYANA ‘S, PARLIAMENT OFFICE AND LIBRATRY OF THE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY – including: Official Reports and Index of the Debates (HANSARD) OATH BOOKS – (Every member’s Oath recorded) MINUTES OF SITTINGS – (First Set of Minutes indicate roll call, all members present, sworn in etc.)

OFFICIAL ELECTIONS RESULTS – Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) The NATIONAL ASSEMBLY’S VISITORS BOOK.
FILES AND CORRESPONDENCE – Office of the Clerk of the National Assembly PERSONAL INFORMATION FORMS – Complete by all Members of Parliament –Parliament Office 108 OTHER SOURCES include: British Certificates – General Register Office (GRO) Local Newspapers – Argosy, Catholic Standard, Chronicle, Evening Post, Guiana Graphic, Mirror, Labour Advocate, the Colonist, the Creole, Indian Opinion, The Liberal, the Royal Gazette, Thunder, Week-end Post.
Official Gazette of BRITISH GUIANA and GUYANA REPORTS British Guiana; Suspension of the Constitution, Report, Cmd.

8895, 1953.

British Guiana Constitutional Commission, Report, Cmd.

9274, 1954.

Report of the British Guiana Constitutional Commission 1954; G. Robertson Commission Report (available on line).

Report on visit to West Indies and British Guiana 1921-2, by E. F. L. Wood, Cmd.

1679, 1922.

British Guiana Development Programme, Report, by Kenneth Berrill, British Guiana Sessional Paper 2/1960.
British Guiana Constitutional Conference, Report, Cmd.

998, 1960.

British Guiana Constitutional Instruments, 1961, for British Guiana Government, 1961.

109 Commission of Inquiry into Disturbances in British Guiana in February, 1962, Report, Cal.

354, 1962.

British Guiana Independence Conference, Report, Cmd.

1870, 1962.

British Guiana Conference, 1963, Report, Cmd.

2203, 1963.

British Guiana Independence Conference, Report, Cmd.
2849, 1965 Financial Position, Report, By K. C. Jacobs, Col. 358, 1964.

Local Government in British Guiana, Report, by A. H. Marshall, Argosy, Georgetown, 1955.

Report of the Constitutional Commission, 1950-51 (Waddington Commission Report) Colonial No.

280.

United States Commission on Boundary Between Venezuela and British Guiana.
Report and Accompanying Papers of the Commission Appointed by the President of the United States “to Investigate and Report Upon the True Divisional Line Between the Republic of Venezuela and British Guiana”, Volume I - Historical.

West India Royal Commission, Report, C. 8655, 1898.

West India Royal Commission 1938-9 Report, by W. E. Moyne, Cmd.

6607, 1945.

Commission of Inquiry into the Sugar Industry of British Guiana, Report, Cal.

no.

249, 1949.
no.

249, 1949.

110 PART IV ELECTIONS The Franchise Electoral Systems Numbers of Constituencies Constituencies – Names and Numbers Political Parties Dates of Elections Parties Allocation of Seats 111 THE FRANCHISE Before 1812 The franchise was limited to persons owning at least 25 slaves.

1812 Either the slave ownership or the ability to pay income tax on an annual income of 10,000 guilders.

Voting was conceded to women.

1832 The voting age was lowered from 25 years to 21 years.
1835 Payment of direct taxes of 70 guilders (£5) per annum.

1836 Payment of direct taxes on an income of not less than 2001 guilders (£143).

1849 Only male British subjects, together with certain property qualifications.

Women were deprived from voting.

1891 The income qualification which had been reduced from $600 (£125) to $480 (£100) per annum was further reduced to £75.

Secret ballot was introduced.

1909 The income qualification was further reduced to $300 (£62 10/-) per annum.
1928 New property qualifications were introduced.

Voting by women was restored.

112 1933 A Commission was appointed to examine the franchise.

1935 The franchise was lowered.

1941 A local Franchise Commission was appointed by the Governor.

1944 The local Franchise Commission submitted a Report dated 29th February, 1944.

1945 Legislation was passed to implement the recommendations of the local Franchise Commission.

The property qualifications were reduced.


Women became eligible for membership to the Legislature.

1947 The income qualification was reduced.

1952 All property qualifications were abolished and universal adult suffrage was introduced.

1973 The voting age was lowered from 21 years to 18 years.
ELECTORAL SYSTEMS Two systems of Elections have been used in Guyana since 1928: the First-Past-The-Post System, and the Proportional Representation System.. 113 1928 to 1964 The First-Past-The-Post (Constituency) system was the electoral system used in British Guiana from 1928 to 1964.

Under the First-Past-The-Post system, the country was divided into Constituencies and candidates contested as individuals in a constituency.

The voters voted for a candidate.


The candidate who received the highest number of votes won the seat.

Since 1964 The Proportional Representation system has been the electoral system used since 1964.

Under the Proportional Representation System, there are no constituencies.

Parties submit lists of candidates and voters vote for the list of their choice.

All of the votes are counted and assigned to the parties.

Parties are allocated seats in proportion to the votes they receive.
Parties then extract the number of names from their lists and these persons become Parliamentarians.
From the time of the 1980 elections, the number of Parliamentarians was increased from 53 to 65: 53 Members were elected from the results of the General Elections, 2 were elected by the National Congress of Local Democratic Organs, and 10 were elected by the Regional Democratic Councils – 1 from each Council From the 2001 elections, using the electoral system of proportional representation, for the 65 Members: 40 were from the National Top-Up Lists, and 25 were from the 10 Regions, called Geographical Constituencies: 2 from Region 1 - Barima/Waini 2 from Region 2 - Pomeroon/Supenaam 114 3 from Region 3 – Essequibo Islands/West Demerara 7 from Region 4 – Demerara/Mahaica 2 from Region 5 - Mahaica/Berbice 3 from Region 6 – East Berbice/Corentyne 2 from Region 7 - Cuyuni/Mazaruni 1 from Region 8 - Potaro/Siparuni 1 from Region 9 – Upper Takutu/Upper Essequibo 2 from Region 10 – Upper Demerara/Berbice NUMBERS OF CONSTITUENCIES There were electoral constituencies in the First-Past-the-Post system of elections up to 1964.
The numbers of constituencies were as follows:- 1891 to 1928 7 constituencies - 8 Members 1928 to 1930 8 constituencies – 14 Members From 1930 to 1964, each constituency had one Member.

1930 to 1935 14 1935 to 1947 14 1947 to 1953 14 1953 24 1957 to 1961 4 1961 to 1964 35 115 From 1964 the Constituency System was no longer used.

The Proportional Representation System of Elections took its place.
CONSTITUENCIES - NAMES A ND NUMBERS There were electoral constituencies in the First-Past-the-Post system of elections, from 1891 to 1964.

However, following the suspension of the 1953 Constitution and the dissolution of the 1953 Legislature, in 1953, an Interim (Wholly Nominated) Legislative Council was established in 1954 and continued until 1957.

From 1964 the Proportional Representation system of elections was used and replaced the Constituency system.
The numbers and the names of the constituencies from 1891 to 1928 were as follows:- 1891 to 1928 There were 5 Electoral Districts, with 7 Constituencies, and 8 Elected Members, as follows:- No.

1 The County of Demerara, exclusive of the City of Georgetown (a) Eastern Division (b) Western Division No.

2 The County of Essequibo (a) North-Western Division (b) South Eastern Division 1 Member 1 Member 1 Member 1 Member 116 No.

3 The County of Berbice, exclusive of the Town of New Amsterdam 1 Member No.
4 The City of Georgetown 2 Members No.

5 The Town of New Amsterdam 1 Member The numbers and the names of the constituencies from 1928 to 1964 were 1928 to 1964 1 North West North Western Essequibo (2) District North West as follows:- No.
1928-1930 (8 Constituencies) 1930-1935 1935-1947 (14 Members) 1947-1953 (14 Constituencies) 2 South East Western Essequibo (2) Essequibo 3 New Essequibo Amsterdam (2) River 4 Georgetown (3) Demerara- Essequibo 5 East New Demerara (1) Amsterdam 6 West Georgetown Demerara (1) North 7 Berbice (2) Georgetown 8 Demerara (1) Georgetown Central 1953 1957-1961 1961-1964 (24 Constituencies) (35 Constituencies) Eastern Berbice New Corentyne River Corentyne Amsterdam East Berbice River Western Berbice Eastern Demerara Central Demerara Corentyne Central Corentyne West Berbice East New Amsterdam Georgetown Berbice North River Georgetown Berbice Central Georgetown West Pomeroon Western Essequibo Essequibo Islands Bartica and Interior Demerara- Essequibo West Bank Demerara East Bank Demerara Upper South Eastern Demerara Central Demerara Eastern Berbice Demerara River Central Abary Georgetown Demerara South River Mahaica Georgetown Demerara- South Central Essequibo Mahaicony Berbice River Georgetown Essequibo Central River Demerara Coast East 117 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 Western Berbice Demerara River Georgetown Western Demerara North Essequibo Coast Central Georgetown North Demerara North East Western District Coast West Kitty Campbellville Georgetown North Georgetown Central Werk-en-Rust Georgetown South La Penitence Lodge Ruimveldt Houston Lower Demerara River Upper Demerara River Canals Polder Vreed-en- Hoop Leonora Boerasirie Essequibo Islands Suddie Pomeroon North
 West Mazaruni- Potaro Rupununi West Central Demerara Central Demerara East Central Demerara Mahaica- Mahaicony Western Berbice New Amsterdam Berbice River Eastern Berbice Corentyne Coast Corentyne River 118 POLITICAL PARTIES The right to form political parties and their freedom of action are guaranteed.
Political parties must respect the principles of national sovereignty and of democracy.

(Article 10 of the Constitution) Political Parties Prohibited From Causing Ethnic Division All persons and political parties are prohibited from taking any action or advancing, disseminating or communicating any idea which may result in racial or ethnic division among the people.
(Article 160A of the Constitution) Role Of Political Parties In The Conduct Of Elections Through the Elections Commission It is hereby declared that the role of political parties and their nominees in the conduct of elections by the Elections Commission shall be limited to their participation in determining policy, monitoring the electoral process and the conduct of the election, but does not include active management of the electoral process.
(Article 161B of the Constitution) Some Political Parties The following are the names of some of the Political Parties:- A Good and Green Guyana (GGG) (Hamilton Green) Alliance For Change (AFC) (Raphael Trotman) (2006) Alliance for Guyana All Races Party (ARP) (Eddie DaSilva) (2004) British Guiana Labour Party 119 Citizens Party Democratic Party (DP) (Jai Narine Singh) God Bless Guyana Guyana Action Party (GAP) Guyana Action Party/Working People’s Alliance (GAP/WPA) Guyana Democratic Party (GDP) Guyana Independence Movement (GIM) (Jai Narine Singh) Guyana Patriotic Alliance (GPA) (Vic Puran) (March 2004) Guyana United Muslim Party (GUMP) (Mohamed Hoosain Ganie) Independent Socialist Party Justice For All Party (JFA) (Chandra Narine Sharma) Justice Party (JP) (Balram Singh Rai) Labour Party Liberator Party (LP) (Ganraj Kumar) National Democratic Front National Democratic Party (NDP) National Independent Party National Labour Front (NLF) (Cecil Gray) Peace, Equality and Prosperity Party (PEP) (Kelvin Wesley DeFreitas) People’s Democratic Movement (PDM) (C.M.
Llewellyn John) People’s Democratic Party People’s Progressive Party (Burnhamite) (PPP(B)) (1955) People’s National Congress (PNC) (Linden Forbes Sampson Burnham) (1957) People’s National Congress/Reform (PNC/R) (Hugh Desmond Hoyte) People’s National Congress/Reform One Guyana (PNCR-1G) (Robert Herman Orlando Corbin) (2006) 120 People’s National Party (PNP) People’s Progressive Party (PPP) (Cheddi Jagan) (1950) People’s Progressive Party (Jaganite) (PPP(J)) 1955 People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) (Cheddi Jagan) (1992) Popular Party (1926) Reform Association (1896) Rise, Organise And Rebuild Party (ROAR) (Ravi Dev) United Democratic Party (UDP) (John Carter) United Farmers and Workers Party (UFWP) United Force (UF) (Peter Stanislaus d’Aguiar) (1961) The United Force (TUF) (Manzoor Nadir) United Guianese Party (UGP) Working People’s Alliance (WPA) Working People’s Vanguard Party (Brindley H. Benn) 121 DATES OF ELECTIONS The following are the dates on which General Elections have been held in Guyana:- ……….(?)……………..
1926 …… (?
)…September, 1930 Tuesday, 3rd September, 1935 Monday, 24th November, 1947 Monday, 27th April, 1953 Monday, 12th August, 1957 Monday, 21st August, 1961 Monday, 7th December, 1964 Monday, 16th December, 1968 Monday, 16th July, 1973 Monday, 15th December, 1980 Monday, 9th December, 1985 Monday, 5th October, 1992 Monday, 15th December, 1997 Monday, 19th March, 2001 Monday, 28th August, 2006 122 L A T O T / P A G R A O R C F A F L N R A O R / P A G A P W P D U P D N - e d n I A P W - d n e p s t n e d n a F U P L F U ) B ( - R C N P R / C N P C / P P P S N O I T C E L E h t 7 2 , y a d n o M 3 5 9 1 F U T C N P ) J ( * 1 * 1 4 * 0 3 * 7 3 * 3 5 * 4 5 9 1 4 1 0 1 8 h t 6 1 , y a d n o M 3 7 9 1 – 9 6 9 1 8 6 9 1 , .
c e D y l b m e s s A l a n o i t a N h t 6 1 , y a d n o M 0 8 9 1 – 3 7 9 1 h t 5 1 , y a d n o M 5 8 9 1 – 0 8 9 1 3 7 9 1 , y l u J y l b m e s s A l a n o i t a N h t 9 , y a d n o M 2 9 9 1 – 5 8 9 1 0 8 9 1 , .

c e D y l b m e s s A l a n o i t a N h t 5 , y a d n o M 7 9 9 1 – 2 9 9 1 5 8 9 1 , .

 – 6 6 9 1 6 2 * 6 3 2 9 9 1 , .

t c O y l b m e s s A l a n o i t a N 5 2 * 6 3 7 9 9 1 , .
c e D y l b m e s s A l a n o i t a N 7 2 * 4 3 1 0 0 2 , .

r a M y l b m e s s A l a n o i t a N h t 8 2 , y a d n o M 6 0 0 2 e c n i S h t 9 1 , y a d n o M 6 0 0 2 – 1 0 0 2 h t 5 1 , y a d n o M 1 0 0 2 – 8 9 9 1 2 2 * 6 3 6 0 0 2 , .

 * 1 1 2 4 * 8 1 3 5 9 1 , .

r p A y l b m e s s A f o e s u o H 4 * 7 3 9 7 5 9 1 , .
g u A l i c n u o C e v i t a l s i g e L h t 2 1 , y a d n o M 1 6 9 1 – 7 5 9 1 t s 1 2 , y a d n o M 4 6 9 1 – 1 6 9 1 1 1 * 0 2 1 6 9 1 , .

g u A y l b m e s s A e v i t a l s i g e L h t 7 , y a d n o M 6 6 9 1 – 4 6 9 1 * 2 2 4 2 4 6 9 1 , .
c e D y l b m e s s A f o e s u o H 123 REFERENCES/SUGGESTIONS FOR FURTHER SHAHABUDDEEN, MOHAMED - Constitutional Development in Guyana:- 1621 – 1978 GECOM’S REGULATIONS GOVERNING ELECTIONS – 1961 onwards CONSTITUTIONS OF BRITISH GUIANA AND THE REPUBLIC OF GUYANA.
GOVERNORS’ PRESIDENTS’, SPEAKERS’ PROCLAMATIONS – Parliament Office AUTHOR’S PERSONAL NOTES AND DIARIES: 1964 – 2002 GECOM’S DECLARATION OF ELECTIONS RESULTS - 1961 – onwards 124 PART V SUPREME ORGANS OF DEMOCRATIC POWER The National Congress of Local Democratic Organs The Supreme Congress of the People 125 SUPREME ORGANS OF DEMOCRATIC POWER The 1980 Constitution established the following as the five supreme organs of democratic power in Guyana:- (i) (ii) (iii) (iv) (v) the Parliament; the National Congress of Local Democratic Organs (NCLDO); the Supreme Congress of the People; the President; and the Cabinet.
THE NATIONAL CONGRESS OF LOCAL DEMOCRATIC ORGANS The National Congress of Local Democratic Organs (NCLDO) consisted of 20 Members – two each elected by each Regional Democratic Council.

The NCLDO had responsibility for representing the interests of local government in Guyana and such other duties and functions as were assigned to it by the Constitution or by any other law.
The National Congress of Local Democratic Organs was abolished in 2000 by an amendment which was made to the Constitution by the Constitution (Amendment) (No.

3) Act 2000 (Act No.

14 of 2000).

THE SUPREME CONGRESS OF THE PEOPLE The Supreme Congress of the People consisted of all Members of the National Assembly and all Members of the National Congress of Local Democratic Organs.
126 The Chairman of the Supreme Congress of the People was the Speaker of the National Assembly and the Clerk and Deputy Clerk of the Supreme Congress were the Clerk and Deputy Clerk of the National Assembly.

The Supreme Congress discussed matters of public interest and made recommendations thereon to the National Assembly or the Government.

In particular, the Congress advised the President on matters which he referred to it.
The Supreme Congress of the People was abolished in 2000 by an amendment which was made to the Constitution by the Constitution (Amendment) (No.

3) Act 2000 (Act No.

14 of 2000).

EFERENCES/SUGGESTIONS FOR FURTHER CONSTITUTION OF THE CO-OPERATIVE REPUBLIC OF GUYANA – Chapters 7, 8 (1980) OFFICIAL GAZETTES –1980, onwards RECORDS OF MINISTRY OF REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT – 1980, onwards CONSTITUTION (Amendment) (No.3) Act 2000 – Act No.
14 of 2000 127 PART VI LEGISLATIVE BODIES Names and Periods of Legislative Bodies Parties Forming Governments 128 NAMES AND PERIODS OF LEGISLATIVE BODIES The following are the names of the Legislative Bodies established by the Dutch from 1732 and continued by the British from 1803 to 1928, those established by the British from 1928, and the Parliamentary Bodies of Guyana from the time of Guyana’s attainment of Independence on 26th May, 1966:- Legislative Body established by the Dutch 1732 to 1803 Court of Policy Dutch Legislative Body continued by the British 1803 to 1928 Court of Policy Legislative Bodies established by the British 1928 to 1930 First Legislative Council 1930 to 1935 Second Legislative Council 1935 to 1947 Third Legislative Council 1947 to 1953 Fourth Legislative Council 1953 First House of Assembly and First State Council (Bicameral Legislature) 1954 to 1957 First Legislative Council (Interim – Wholly Nominated) 1957 to 1961 Second Legislative Council 1961 to 1964 First Legislative Assembly and First Senate (Bicameral Legislature) 1964 to 1966 House of Assembly 129 Parliamentary Bodies of Guyana (From Independence – 26th May, 1966) 1966 to 1968 National Assembly of First Parliament of Guyana 1969 to 1973 National Assembly of Second Parliament of Guyana 1973 to 1980 National Assembly of Third Parliament of Guyana 1980 to 1985 National Assembly of Fourth Parliament of Guyana 1986 to 1992 National Assembly of Fifth Parliament of Guyana 1992 to 1997 National Assembly of Sixth Parliament of Guyana
 1998 to 2001 National Assembly of Seventh Parliament of Guyana 2001 to 2006 National Assembly of Eighth Parliament of Guyana Since 2006 National Assembly of Ninth Parliament of Guyana PARTIES FORMING GOVERNMENTS 1928 to 1953 (Colonial) 1953 People’s Progressive Party (PPP) 1954 to 1957 No Party formed the Government.
There was an Interim Wholly Nominated Legislative Council 1957 to 1961 People’s Progressive Party (PPP) 1961 to 1964 People’s Progressive Party (PPP) 130 1964 to 1968 People’s National Congress and United Force (PNC & UF) 1968 to 1973 People’s National Congress (PNC) 1973 to 1980 People’s National Congress (PNC) 1980 to 1985 People’s National Congress (PNC) 1985 to 1992 People’s National Congress (PNC) 1992 to 1997 People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) 1997 to 2001 People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) 2001 to 2006 People’s Progressive Party/Civic, with The United Force (PPP/C & TUF) Since 2006 People’s Progressive Party/Civic, with The United Force (PPP/C & TUF) 131 PART VII OFFICIALS Kings and Queens of England Governors of British Guiana Governors-General Presidents Presiding in the Legislature Speakers Deputy Speakers Presidents of Upper Houses Vice-Presidents of Upper Houses Ex Officio and other Official Members in the Legislature The First Ministers Premiers/Prime Ministers Leaders of the Opposition/Minority Leaders Non-Elected Ministers and Non-Elected Parliamentary Secretaries The First Women Legislators 132 KINGS AND QUEENS OF ENGLAND The Monarchs of Great Britain have been part of our legislative process.
No Bill could have become law until either the Governor of the Colony shall have assented thereto in the Monarch’s name and on the Monarch’s behalf, and shall have signed the same in token of such assent, or the Monarch shall have given assent thereto through a Secretary of State.

A law, even though assented to by the Governor, could have been disallowed by the Monarch.
It was not until when Guyana became a Republic on 23rd February, 1970, and accordingly ceased to be part of Her Majesty’s dominions, that the British Monarch was no longer involved in the assent to our laws.
The following are the Kings and Queens of England since the Stuart House in 1603:- Stuart House 1603 – 1625 King James I 1625 – 1649 King Charles I 1649 – 1660 (Republic under Oliver Cromwell and his son Richard) 1660 – 1685 King Charles II 1685 – 1688 King James II 1689 – 1694 Queen Mary II ) 1689 – 1702 King William III ) Joint Sovereigns 1702 – 1714 Queen Anne 133 Hanoverian House 1714 – 1727 King George I 1727 – 1760 King George II 1760 – 1820 King George III 1820 – 1830 King George IV (Regent 1811 -1820) 1830 – 1837 King William IV Saxe-Coburg and Gotha House 1837 – 1901 Queen Victoria 1901 – 1910 King Edward VII Windsor House 1910 – 1936 King George V 1936 King Edward VIII 1936 – 1952 King George VI Since 1952 Queen Elizabeth II GOVERNORS OF BRITISH GUIANA There were 37 persons who were either Governors, or Acting Governors or Officers Administering the Government, from the time of the Union in 1831, of the Colonies of Demerara and Essequibo and Berbice as British Guiana, to 1928, when British Guiana, under a new Constitution, became a British Crown Colony, with its First Legislative Council which replaced the Dutch created bodies of the Court of Policy and the Combined Court, who would have presided in the Legislative Council.
The first of these was – 1831 Major-General Sir Benjamin D’Urban, KCB, KCH, Governor 134 From 1928, to the time in 1953 when the Office of Speaker was established, there were 10 persons who were Governors, or Acting Governors, or Officers Administering the Government, and who would have presided in the Legislative bodies, as follows:- 1928 Brigadier General Sir Frederick Gordon Guggisberg, KCMG, DSO, RE, Governor 1929 Sir Crawford Douglas Douglas-Jones, CMG, Officer Administering the Government 1930 Sir Edward Brandis Denham, KCMG, KBE, Governor 1934 Sir Crawford Douglas Douglas-Jones, CMG, Officer Administering the Government 1935 Sir Geoffrey Alexander Stafford Northcote, KCMG, Governor 1937 Sir (Eubule) John Waddington, KCMG, OBE, Officer Administering the Government 1937 Sir Wilfred Edward Francis Jackson, GCMG, Governor 1939 Sir (Eubule) John Waddington, KCMG, OBE, Acting Governor 1939 George Douglas Owen, Esquire, CMG, Officer Administering the Government 1939 Sir Wilfred Edward Francis Jackson, GCMG, Governor 135 1941 George Douglas Owen, Esquire, CMG, Officer Administering the Government 1941 Sir Gordon James Lethem, KCMG, Governor 1947 Sir Charles Campbell Woolley, KCMG, OBE, MC,Governor 1952 Sir Alfred William Lungley Savage, KCMG, Governor From 1953, to the time of Guyana’s attainment of Independence on 26th May, 1966, when the Office of Governor was replaced by the Office of Governor- General, there were 4 Governors, as follows who, from 1953, did not have to preside in the Legislative bodies:-
 Since 1952 Sir Alfred William Lungley Savage, KCMG, Governor 1955 Sir Patrick Muir Renison, KCMG, Governor 1959 Sir Ralph Francis Alnwick Grey, KCMG, KCVO, OBE, Governor 1964 Sir Richard Edmonds Luyt, KCMG, DCM, Governor GOVERNORS-GENERAL The Office of Governor-General and Commander-in-Chief of Guyana was established by the Independence Constitution and first came into being when Guyana became Independent on 26th May, 1966.
It replaced the Office of Governor.

The new Office of Governor-General continued until Guyana became a Republic on 23rd February, 1970.

136 The Governor-General was appointed by Her Majesty, held office during Her Majesty’s pleasure and was Her Majesty’s representative in Guyana.
The holders of the Office of Governor-General from 1966 to 1970 were as follows:- 1966 Sir Richard Edmonds Luyt, KCMG, DCM, Governor-General (Was the Governor before his appointment) 1966 Sir Kenneth Sievewright Stoby, Acting Governor-General 1966 to 1969 Sir David James Gardiner Rose, GCMG, CVO, MBE, Governor-General (He was killed in an accident in London) 1969 to 1970 Edward Victor Luckhoo, Acting Governor-General PRESIDENTS The Office of President replaced the Office of Governor-General in Guyana and came into being when Guyana became a Republic on 23rd February, 1970.
Arthur Chung was the first President of Guyana.

The holders of the Office of President are as follows:- Titular President (Elected by the National Assembly) 1970 to 1980 Arthur Chung, OE (Two terms) (Elected in 1970 and re-elected in 1976) 137 Presidents with Executive Powers Linden Forbes Sampson Burnham (PNC) was the First President with Executive Powers.
1980 to 1985 Linden Forbes Sampson Burnham, OE, SC (PNC) (Died on 6th August, 1985, as President) 1985 to 1992 Hugh Desmond Hoyte, SC (PNC) (As Prime Minister, assumed the Office of President on 6th August, 1985, on the death of Linden Forbes Sampson Burnham) 1992 to 1997 Cheddi Jagan (PPP/C) (Died on 6th March, 1997, as President) 1997 Samuel Archibald Anthony Hinds (PPP/C) (As Prime Minister, assumed the Office of President on 6th March, 1997, on the death of Cheddi Jagan) 1997 to 1999 Janet Jagan, OE (PPP/C) (Resigned as President on 11th August, 1999) Since 1999 Bharrat Jagdeo (PPP/C) (As Prime Minister, assumed the Office of President on 11th August, 1999, on the resignation of Janet Jagan) PRESIDING IN THE LEGISLATURE 1928 to 1953 The Governor of the Colony of British Guiana presided in the Legislative Council as its President from 1928 to 1953.
138 From 1953 With the establishment of the Office of Speaker in 1953, Speakers have presided in the Legislative bodies since that time.

SPEAKERS The Office of Speaker was first established in British Guiana in 1953 by the 1953 Constitution.

From 1953, Speakers have presided in the Legislative bodies.

Sir Eustace Gordon Woolford was the first Speaker.
The holders of the Office of Speaker are as follows:- Appointed by the Governor 1953 to 1957 Sir Eustace Gordon Woolford, OBE, QC 1957 to 1961 Sir Donald Edward Jackson Elected by the Legislative Body 1961 to 1964 Rahman Baccus Gajraj, CBE, JP 1964 to 1967 Aubrey Percival Alleyne (PNC) (Died while holding the Office) 1968 to 1970 Rahman Baccus Gajraj, CBE, JP 1971 to 1992 Sase Narain, CMG, OR, SC, JP 1992 to 2000 Derek Chunilall Jagan, OR, CCH, SC, JP (PPP/C) (Died while holding the Office) 2000 to 2001 Winslow Martin Zephyr (PPP/C) Since 2001 Hari Narayen Ramkarran, SC (PPP/C) 139 DEPUTY SPEAKERS The Office of Deputy Speaker was first established in 1953 by the 1953 Constitution.
Janet Jagan (PPP), an Elected Member of the House of Assembly for the Western Essequibo Constituency, was elected by the House of Assembly at its First Meeting on 18th May, 1953, to be Deputy Speaker of the House of Assembly.

Janet Jagan was therefore the First Deputy Speaker.
The following are the persons who have held the Office of Deputy Speaker:- 1953 Janet Jagan (PPP), Deputy Speaker of the House of Assembly 1954 to 1956 William John Raatgever, CBE, Deputy Speaker of the Legislative Council 1956 William Alexander Macnie, CMG, OBE, Deputy Speaker of the Legislative Council 1957 to 1961 Rahman Baccus Gajraj, CBE, JP, Deputy Speaker of the Legislative Council 1961 to 1964 William Oscar Rudyard Kendall (PNC) Deputy Speaker of the Legislative Assembly 1964 to 1968 Rupert Clement Tello (UF; PNC from 1968) Deputy Speaker of the House of Assembly and of the National Assembly 1969 to 1970 Oscar Eleazer Clarke (PNC) Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly 140 1971 to 1973 Derek Chunilall Jagan (PPP) Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly 1973 to 1974 Marcellus Feilden Singh (LP) Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly 1974 to 1976 Ralph Chesterfield Van Sluytman (PNC) Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly 1976 to 1986 Ram Karran (PPP) Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly 1986 to 1992 Reepu Daman Persaud (PPP) Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly 1992 Arthur A. Alexander (PNC) Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly 1997 Winslow M. Zephyr (PPP/C) Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly Since 2001 Clarissa Sabita Riehl (PNC/R) Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly 141 PRESIDENTS OF UPPER HOUSES There were two occasions in Guyana when there were bicameral Legislatures with Upper Houses.
In 1953 there was the State Council and from 1961 to 1964 there was the Senate.

The President of the State Council and the President of the Senate were elected by the respective bodies when they first met.
The Presidents of the Upper Houses were as follows:- 1953 State Council Sir Edwin Frank McDavid, CMG, CBE, President of the State Council and Minister without Portfolio (Elected by the State Council on 26th May, 1953) 1961 to 1964 The Senate Ashton Chase (PPP), President of the Senate (Elected by the Senate on 5th October, 1961) VICE-PRESIDENTS OF UPPER HOUSES There were two occasions in Guyana when there were bicameral Legislatures with Upper Houses.
In 1953 there was the State Council and from 1961 to 1964 there was the Senate.

No provision was made in the 1953 Constitution for the Office of Vice- President of the State Council.

There was therefore no appointment or election of a Vice-President of the State Council.

142 The Vice-President of the Senate was elected by the Senate when it first met on 5th October, 1961.
The Vice-President of the Senate was as follows:- 1961 to 1964 Cyril Victor Too Chung, Vice-President of the Senate (Elected by the Senate on 5th October, 1961) EX OFFICIO AND OTHER OFFICIAL MEMBERS IN THE LEGISLATURE Ex Officio Members 1928 to 1947 There were the following two Ex Officio Members in the First, Second and Third Legislative Councils from 1928 to 1947:- The Colonial Secretary The Attorney General 1947 to 1961 There were the following three Ex Officio Members in the Legislative bodies from 1947 to 1961:- The Colonial Secretary (redesignated Chief Secretary from 1953) The Attorney General The Colonial Treasurer (redesignated Financial Secretary from 1953) From 1961 There were no Ex Officio Members in the Legislative bodies from the 1961 Legislative Assembly.
Other Official Members 1928 to 1947 143 Several Heads of Government Departments were nominated from time to time to serve in the Legislative Councils from 1928 to 1947.
These have included the following:- The Director of Education The Inspector General of Police The Director of Public Works The Conservator of Forests The Managing Director, Colonial Transport Department The Commissioner of Lands and Mines The Surgeon General The Director of Agriculture The Postmaster General The Immigration Agent General The Comptroller of Customs The Government Analyst The Official Receiver The General Manager, Transport and Harbours Department The District Commissioner, East Coast Demerara The Director of Public Works and Sea Defences The Director of Medical Services The Commissioner of Labour and Local Government 1947 to 1953 From 1947 to 1953, there were no Official Members in the Legislature.
1954 to 1957 From 1954 to 1957, the following two persons served as Nominated Official Members of the Interim Wholly Nominated Legislative Council:- The Commissioner of Lands and Mines, Wellesley Trevelyan Lord, and 144 The Commissioner of Labour, James Isaac Ramphal.

Since 1957 There have been no Official Members in the Legislature since 1957.
THE FIRST MINISTERS From 29th May to 21st December, 1953 A Ministerial System of Government was first introduced and the Office of Minister of the Government was first established in British Guiana in 1953 by the 1953 Constitution.

Provision was made for seven Ministers – six to be elected by the new House of Assembly and one by the new State Council.
Following the general elections on 27th April, 1953, the following seven persons were elected on 18th May, 1953, as the first Ministers of the Government:- Six Elected by the House of Assembly (All from the People’s Progressive Party) At the First Meeting of the House of Assembly Dr. Cheddi Jagan, Leader of the House and Minister of Agriculture, Forests, Lands and Mines Linden Forbes Sampson Burnham, Minister of Education Ashton Chase, Minister of Labour, Industry and Commerce 145 Sydney Evanson King, Minister of Communications and Works Dr. Joseph Prayag Lachhmansingh, Minister of Health and Housing Jai Narine Singh, Minister of Local Government and Social Welfare One Elected by the State Council At the First Meeting of the State Council Sir (Edwin) Frank McDavid, Minister without Portfolio Removal of Portfolios On 9th October, 1953, the Constitution was suspended.
The State Council and the House of Assembly were prorogued.

The portfolios of the six elected Ministers were removed.

They became Ministers without Portfolio.

On 21st December, 1953, the Legislature (the State Council and the House of Assembly) was dissolved.

All seven Ministers without Portfolio ceased to be Ministers from that time.
PREMIERS/PRIME MINISTERS Leader of the House The 1953 Constitution made provision for the first six Ministers of the Government who were elected by the House of Assembly to elect one of their number to be their Leader and to be styled “Leader of the House”.

146 The first Leader elected was 1953 Dr. Cheddi Jagan (PPP) Leader of the House and Minister of Agriculture, Forests, Lands and Mines Premiers The Office of Premier was first established in Guyana in 1961 by the 1961 Constitution.
An appointment to the Office was made by the Governor.

The Governor appointed as Premier the Member of the Legislative Assembly who appeared to him to be best able to command the confidence of a majority of the Members of the Legislative Assembly and who was willing to be so appointed (Article 29 of the 1961 Constitution).
The first person to be appointed Premier was Dr. Cheddi Jagan (PPP).The following Members have held the Office of Premier:- 1961 to 1964 Dr. Cheddi Jagan (PPP) 1964 to 1965 Linden Forbes Sampson Burnham (PNC) Prime Ministers The Office of Prime Minister was first established in Guyana in 1965 by an amendment to the Constitution.

It replaced the Office of Premier.

Linden Forbes Sampson Burnham (PNC) who was the Premier at the time, became the first holder of the Office of Prime Minister.
The following are the persons who have held the Office of Prime Minister:- 1965 to 1980 Linden Forbes Sampson Burnham (PNC) 147 1980 to 1984 Ptolemy Alexander Reid (PNC) 1984 to 1985 Hugh Desmond Hoyte (PNC) 1985 to 1992 Hamilton Green (PNC) 1992 to 1997 Samuel Archibald Anthony Hinds (PPP/C) (Was appointed and was sworn in as Prime Minister on 10th October, 1992.
Assumed the Office of President and became the Fifth President of Guyana on 6th March, 1997 following the death that day of Cheddi Jagan, President) 1997 Janet Jagan (PPP/C) (Was appointed and was sworn in on 17th March, 1997 as Prime Minister and First Vice-President.
Was declared to be elected and was sworn in as President following the General Elections on 15th December, 1997) 1997 to 1999 Samuel Archibald Anthony Hinds (PPP/C) (Was appointed and was sworn in as Prime Minister, following the General Elections on 15th December, 1997 Resigned as Prime Minister on 8th August, 1999) 1999 Bharrat Jagdeo (PPP/C) (Was appointed Prime Minister on 9th August, 1999, following the resignation on 8th August, 1999, of Samuel Archibald Anthony Hinds (PPP/C) as Prime Minister.
Assumed the Office of President on 11th August, 1999, following the resignation that day of Janet Jagan (PPP/C), as President) Since 1999 Samuel Archibald Anthony Hinds (PPP/C) (Was appointed Prime Minister on 11th August, 1999, by the President, Bharrat Jagdeo (PPP/C).
148 Was again appointed Prime Minister following the General Elections on19th March, 2001 and on 28th August, 2006) LEADERS OF THE OPPOSITION/ MINORITY LEADERS The Office of Leader of the Opposition was first established in Guyana in 1966 by the 1966 (Independence) Constitution.

The power to make an appointment to the Office was vested in the Governor- General.
The Governor-General appointed the Member of the National Assembly who was willing to be appointed and who, in his judgment, was best able to command the support of a majority of those Members who did not support the Government.

Dr. Cheddi Jagan was appointed to be and became the First Leader of the Opposition under the Constitution.

The 1980 Constitution changed the designation from Leader of the Opposition to Minority Leader, and gave the power of appointment to the President.

An amendment by Act No.


2 of 2000 to the 1980 Constitution changed back the designation to Leader of the Opposition and provided for the person to be elected by and from among the non- governmental Members of the National Assembly at a meeting held under the chairmanship of the Speaker of the National Assembly who shall not have the right to vote.
The persons who have held the Office of Leader of the Opposition/Minority Leader are as follows:- 1966 to 1973 Cheddi Jagan (PPP) Leader of the Opposition 149 1974 to 1976 Marcellus Fielden Singh (LP) Leader of the Opposition 1976 to 1980 Cheddi Jagan (PPP) Leader of the Opposition 1980 to 1992 Cheddi Jagan (PPP) Minority Leader 1992 to 2000 Hugh Desmond Hoyte (PNC) Minority Leader 2000 to 2002 Hugh Desmond Hoyte (PNC/R) Leader of the Opposition (Died on 22nd December, 2002) Since 2002 Robert Herman Orlando Corbin (PNC/R) Leader of the Opposition NON-ELECTED MINISTERS AND NON-ELECTED PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARIES The 1966 (Independence) Constitution provided for the appointment by the Governor-General, acting in accordance with the advice of the Prime Minister, of not more than 4 persons who were not elected Members of the National Assembly, to be Ministers.
The 1970 (Republic) Constitution stated that the number of Non-Elected Ministers shall not exceed 6 or such greater number as Parliament may prescribe.

A subsequent amendment stated that the number shall not exceed 6 or such greater number as the President, acting in accordance with the advice of the Prime Minister may, from time to time, determine.
150 The 1980 Constitution prescribed no limit to the number of Non-Elected Ministers and also provided for Non-Elected Parliamentary Secretaries to be appointed by the President.

By an amendment in 2000 to the 1980 Constitution, the number of Non- Elected Ministers was fixed at not more than 4 and the number of Non- Elected Parliamentary Secretaries was fixed at not more than 2.
Non-Elected Ministers and Non-Elected Parliamentary Secretaries become Members of the National Assembly but they cannot vote in the Assembly.

THE FIRST WOMEN LEGISLATORS In 1945, women became eligible for membership to the Legislature for the first time.

At the 1953 general elections, held on 27th April, 1953, with universal adult suffrage for the first time, the People’s Progressive Party won 18 of the 24 seats in the new House of Assembly.
Of the 18 Members, 3 were women, and these became the first women legislators in British Guiana.

They were – Janet Jagan (PPP) (Elected Representative for the Western Essequibo Constituency.
Janet Jagan was also elected by the House of Assembly to be and became the First Deputy Speaker) Jessie Irma Sampson Burnham (PPP) (Elected Representative for the Georgetown-Central Constituency) Jane Phillips-Gay (PPP) 151 (Elected Representative for the East Central Demerara Constituency) The House of Assembly held its First Meeting on 18th May, 1953.

Members made and subscribed the Oath at that Sitting.

On 9th October, 1953, the Constitution was suspended and the Legislature was prorogued.
On 21st December, 1953, the Legislature was dissolved.

All Members of the House of Assembly ceased to be Members from that time.
152 PART VIII SOME MISCELLANEOUS MATTERS Legislature/Parliament Unicameral/Bicameral Legislatures Places of Meetings – The Public Buildings Dress for Sittings Seating Arrangements of Members The Mace Prayers Read in the Legislature Oaths by Members Forms of Addressing the Speaker and Members Recess for the National Assembly Prorogation and Dissolution Table of Precedence 153 LEGISLATURE/PARLIAMENT Legislature of British Guiana The Legislature would have been the general word used for our law-making body which would have consisted of – The Governor, and The Legislative Council.
In the 1953 Constitution, the power to make laws for the peace, order and good government of the Colony was vested in – The Governor, with the advice and consent of The State Council and of the House of Assembly.

No Bill could have become law until either the Governor shall have assented thereto in Her Majesty’s name and on Her Majesty’s behalf, and shall have signed the same in token of such assent, or Her Majesty shall have given Her assent thereto through a Secretary of State.
A law, even though assented by the Governor, could have been disallowed by Her Majesty.

In the 1961 Constitution, the Legislature became – The Governor, and The Senate and the Legislative Assembly.

The requirement for assent remained the same.

Parliament Of Guyana The word Parliament first came into official use in 1966 by the 1966 (Independence) Constitution, and replaced the word Legislature.
154 From that time, laws were made by the Parliament of Guyana which consisted of – Her Majesty, and A National Assembly.

Bills passed by the National Assembly had to be assented to by the Governor- General on behalf of Her Majesty, before they became law.

When Guyana became a Republic on 23rd February, 1970, the Parliament of Guyana consisted of – The President, and The National Assembly.

Bills passed by the National Assembly had to be assented to by the President before they became law.
The British Monarch was no longer involved.

The composition of the Parliament and the requirement for the assent to Bills by the President have since continued in successive Constitutions.

UNICAMERAL/BICAMERAL LEGISLATURES A unicameral legislature is a legislature with only legislative chamber (body).

A bicameral legislature is a legislature with two legislative chambers (bodies), sometimes referred to as the Upper House and the Lower House.
Throughout the history of the Legislature of British Guiana/Guyana, there have been only two occasions during which there have been bicameral legislatures.

On all the other occasions, there have been unicameral legislatures.
155 Unicameral and bicameral legislatures have been as follows:- 1928 to 1953 Unicameral Legislatures 1953 Bicameral Legislature 1954 to 1961 Unicameral Legislatures 1961 to 1964 Bicameral Legislature Since 1964 Unicameral Legislatures PLACES OF MEETINGS THE PUBLIC BUILDINGS On 24th June, 1828, the Government, in an advertisement in the Royal Gazette, invited plans for the building of a new Court House in Georgetown to accommodate all Public Offices.
Provision was also to be made for a meeting place for the law-making officials.

The east wing of the upper floor of the building was ear-marked for this purpose.

The plan submitted by Joseph Hadfield, Sworn Surveyor and Colonial Architect, was accepted.

The foundation stone of the Building was laid on 27th March, 1829, and the Building was completed on 27th April, 1834.

The Building was put into use from April, 1834.


The Building was formally handed over on 5th August, 1834, to a Committee of the Court of Policy (which was the law-making body) in the presence of the Architect and George Booker, representing J.D.

Patterson, one of the three 156 Contractors, and the other two Contractors, Roderick McKenzie and Hector Kemp.

The Contractors did their work for £50,000, but it was reported that this turned out to be a loss to them.
The street south of the Building – Hadfield Street – was named in honour of the Architect.

The Building was first called the “Guiana Public Buildings”.

Guiana was subsequently dropped from the name.

While the Public Buildings is still the official name, the Building is now popularly known and referred to as the Parliament Building.
The Building was first occupied as follows:- East Wing (Upper Floor) Court of Policy Hall, with adjacent Offices for the Government Secretary, his Assistant and Clerks, and the Attorney General East Wing (Lower Floor) Custom House, Pilot Committee West Wing (Upper Floor) The Hall of the Supreme Courts of Civil and Criminal Justice West Wing (Lower Floor) Divided into Offices for the Registrar General and his Staff 157 Central Portion (Upper Floor) Divided into apartments for Barristers, the Administrator General, Financial Representatives and the Governor Central Portion (Lower Floor) The Administrator General, the Auditor General, the Provost Marshal, the Deputy Postmaster General, the Financial Accountant, the Receiver General and other Functionaries.
The Government Secretary’s Office was removed to the East side of the Building on 16th August, 1887.

Meetings of the Court of Policy were held in the Court of Policy Hall from the time that the building was put into use from April, 1834.

The coffered Italian ceiling in this Hall was constructed in 1875 by Castellani, an Italian Architect.

This Hall was reconditioned in 1888, following consideration of this matter by the Court of Policy on 28th August, 1888.
The new Hall of the Court of Policy was opened by Lord Gormonston on 19th March, 1889.

When the British introduced a Crown Colony system of Government in British Guiana in 1928, with a Legislative Council in the place of the Court of Policy, the Court of Policy Hall became the place for the meetings of the Legislative Council and was called the Council Chamber.

This Chamber has continued as the meeting place for our legislators.
The Government Departments which were in the Public Buildings in 1951, when the compiler of the historical information herein joined the British Guiana Civil Service as a Class II Clerk in the Colonial Secretary’s Office, included the Colonial Secretary’s Office, the Archives, the Attorney General’s Chambers, the Financial Secretary’s Office, the Treasury, the 158 Audit Department, the Local Government Department, the Income Tax Department, the Currency Commissioners and the Widows and Orphans Fund.
The Council Chamber was and still is on the upper floor of the east wing.

The services to the Legislature were at that time provided by Staff from the Colonial Secretary’s Office.

With the introduction of a new Constitution in 1953, and the establishment of a Ministerial system of Government and the Office of Speaker for the first time, a new and separate Department called the Office of the Legislature was also established to serve the new bicameral legislature.
This new Office with a Staff of 12 persons was given the central portion of the eastern half of the upper floor of the Public Buildings.

Office accommodation was also provided in that same section for the first two Presiding Members of the two new Legislative bodies – the Speaker of the House of Assembly and the President of the State Council.
When Guyana attained Independence on 26th May, 1966, the Legislature became the Parliament of Guyana, the Council Chamber was renamed the Parliament Chamber, and the Office of the Legislature was renamed the Parliament Office.

By 1992, most of the Government Departments which were in the Public Buildings, had expanded and had removed therefrom.
Only the Offices of the Prime Minister and of some other Ministers and their Staffs, the Secretariats of the National Congress of Local Democratic Organs (NCLDO) and the Public Utilities Commission (PUC), and Parliament Office with a Staff which had increased to 40, were in the Building.
When the People’s Progressive Party/Civic Administration came into Office after the October 5, 1992 , general elections, the President, Cheddi Jagan, following a request by Frank A. Narain, Clerk of the National Assembly, informed him in a letter dated 16th December, 1992, that it was agreed to make the Public Buildings available for Parliamentary matters only.

The 159 Building was, from that time, placed under the administration of Frank A. Narain, Clerk of the National Assembly.
In spite of President Jagan’s decision in 1992, and of continued representations by Frank A. Narain, the PUC, a non-Parliamentary matters body, continued in the Building until 2003.

Major repairs and renovations have had to be and have continued to be carried out from time to time to this now 174 year old building.

Repairs have had to be done to the Parliament Chamber, particularly to the roof and ceiling, the walls, the floor and the windows.

New and modern lights were also installed.


The Public Buildings, now available for Parliamentary matters only, has been restructured to suit the needs of the increased Staff, now 56, and the various sections into which the Parliament Office is divided, including a Library and a Committee Secretariat.

There are also some new and improved facilities for Members of Parliament.
The two cannons in the front Compound of the Public Buildings were captured by the British at the Battle of Sebastopol and were presented to the Colony on 10th May, 1859, in recognition of its generous contributions to the Patriotic Fund for the Relief of Widows and Orphans of the soldiers who were killed in the Crimean War.

The iron railing around the Building was erected in May 1874.

The grounds of the Public Buildings were laid out in 1882 by G.S.

Jenman, an Official attached to the Botanical Gardens.
A sundial was placed in the front Compound in 1966 but was subsequently removed.

160 The statue (sculptured by E.R.

Burrowes) of Robert Nathaniel Critchlow, the founder of Trade Unionism in Guyana, was placed in the north eastern part of the Compound some time before 1988.
Ocean View Convention Centre When very major repairs, renovations and refurbishing (including the provision of new chairs for the Members of Parliament and the air- conditioning of the Parliament Chamber) were being done from 2003 to 2005, the Chamber could not have been used.

Sittings of the National Assembly were held during this time at the Ocean View Convention Centre at Liliendaal, Greater Georgetown.
DRESS FOR SITTINGS Prior to 1969, Members of the Legislature dressed very formally for attendance at Sittings of the Legislative Bodies.

Ceremonial Occasions such as the Opening of a new Legislative Body or of a new Session of such a Body was a grand affair.

On such occasions, the Governor of the Colony, who was also the President of the Legislative Council, wore the full Ceremonial outfit of his Office.
The Official Members – the Colonial Secretary and the Financial Secretary – wore the official uniforms of their respective Offices.

The Attorney General wore the wig and gown pertaining to his legal profession.

All male Members wore lounge suits.

Some ladies even wore hats and gloves.


From 1953, when a Speaker replaced the Governor in presiding in the Legislative body, the Speaker wore a full bottomed wig and a ceremonial gown on Ceremonial occasions and a bob wig and an ordinary gown on all other occasions.

From that time too, the two Clerks at the Table wore bob wigs and gowns on Ceremonial occasions and lounge suits on all other occasions.
161 In April 1969, a Representative Committee of the National Assembly (PNC Administration) recommended as an alternative form to the conventional attire of a suit (an outfit with jacket and tie) the use of a shirt jac for male Members.
The alternative forms now allowed are as follows:- Speaker For Ceremonial Occasions A shirt jac (suiting material) with long sleeves and with tunic neck For Ordinary Occasions A shirt jac (shirting or suiting material) with long sleeves and with either tunic neck or break neck Other Members For Ceremonial Occasions A shirt jac (shirting or suiting material) with long sleeves and with either tunic neck or break neck For Ordinary Occasions A shirt jac (shirting or suiting material) with either long or short sleeves and with either tunic neck or break neck Shirt jacs must be white or must be of mild single colours.
As the shirt jac is an alternative form of dress, male members are at liberty to wear the conventional form of attire.

Wigs and gowns are no longer used by the Speaker and the Clerks.

162 SEATING ARRANGEMENTS OF MEMBERS Every Member of our respective legislative bodies has been provided with his own individual seat in the Legislative Chamber.
Status, seniority, length of service, order of nomination, constituency, and alphabetical order of surnames, and later the Table of Precedence, determined the order of seating and the Clerk assisted in this exercise.

With the coming into operation of the Party system, it was subsequently accepted that the order of seating of the Members of a Party should be left entirely to and be determined by that particular Party.
The British practice has continued – Members of the Party/Parties in Government sit on the right of the Speaker and Members of the Opposition on the left.

The Parliament Office prepares and places on the Tables “Name Cards” bearing the Members’ names.

THE MACE From 1957 First used in Guyana.

In ancient times, a Mace was a weapon made of wood and was designed for use as such.

It was carried by someone in front of the Monarch to protect the Monarch.
Later, Maces became symbols – symbols of authority, and were re-designed.

Maces are used in the British Parliament and in Commonwealth Parliaments and are carried in front of the Speaker by an Officer designated Sergeant-at- Arms, when the Speaker is entering and leaving the Legislative Chamber.

In the Chamber, the Mace is placed on a Table in front of the Speaker during 163 sittings and it is placed on rests below the Table when the Legislative body sits as a Committee.
It is a symbol of the Speaker’s authority.

Prior to 1953, the Governor of British Guiana presided at sittings of the Legislative body of the Colony and no Mace was used.

In 1953, with the introduction of a new Constitution, a Ministerial system of Government was established and the Office of Speaker was provided for, for the first time in British Guiana.

Provision was also made in the 1953 Estimates of Expenditure for the purchase of a Mace for the new House of Assembly.
On 12th December, 1952, in presenting the Budget for 1953 to the Legislative Council, the Financial Secretary and Treasurer, Edwin Frank McDavid, in his Budget Speech in the Council, said: “An allocation has also been included to meet the cost of a Royal Mace to be obtained for the House of Assembly subject to the sanction of Her Majesty.

The Mace is the traditional symbol of the Speaker’s authority and will add to the dignity of that Chamber of the new Legislature.
Honourable Members will, I am sure, be glad to know that the Crown Agents have already furnished beautiful and most appropriate designs for a British Guiana Mace estimated to cost about $2,400.
May I say that a splendid opportunity is open to any Unofficial Member of the present Council who may wish to perpetuate his memory and record of service by making a gift of the Mace?” There was no local response to this suggestion of the Financial Secretary and Treasurer, but on reading the Budget Speech in London, the Chairman of Messrs. Booker Bros. McConnell and Company, Limited, telegraphed the Officer Administering the Government in British Guiana asking whether the Colony would accept the gift of a Mace from Bookers London Directors, not from the Company, but as individual persons.
After consulting with the Executive Council, the Officer Administering the Government replied that the gift would be accepted.

164 Arrangements were then proceeded with through the Crown Agents for the Colonies for the purchase of the Mace.

At that stage, the Colonial Office stepped in.


They wrote the Chairman of the Company a most stern and admonishing letter to the effect that the gift of the Mace was a Royal Prerogative and it was most improper – and they suggested almost high treason – that so low a form of human life as commercial persons should concern themselves with its purchase.

The Mace was therefore obtained by the Government and paid for from the funds voted for this purpose - $2,400 (£500).
The Mace arrived in British Guiana in February 1954, that is, after the suspension of the 1953 Constitution and during the life of the Interim Wholly Nominated Legislative Council, and was not put into use then.

It was kept in its box in the vault of the Treasury below the Chamber on the ground floor of the Public Buildings.

The Mace was designed and made by Gerrard and Company, Limited, Crown Jewellers, formerly the Goldsmiths and Silversmiths Company, Limited, of England.
It was of silver gilt and was after the form of the British House of Commons Mace – 57 ¼” in length – but with the arches of the Head in modern form as compared with those of the Charles II period.

On the cushion of the Crown in relief were the Royal Arms, a symbol of the authority of Her Majesty the Queen and on the obverse and reverse of the Head appeared the Royal Cypher E II R. On the stem of the Mace were representations of the Victoria Regia lily flat chased.
This lily is considered the largest water lily in the world and was first discovered growing in British Guiana during the reign of Queen Victoria.

Other ornaments depicted on the stem included the rice plant in full bearing and the sugar cane in bloom, representing two of the country’s principal products.

With the re-establishment of an elected Legislature in 1957, it was decided that the Mace should be put into use.
On the occasion of the Opening of the 165 new Legislative Council on 10th September, 1957, the Mace was blessed by the Archbishop of the West Indies, Dr. Alan John Knight, and, with the approval of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, was entrusted by her representative, the Governor, Sir Patrick Muir Renison, to the Speaker of the Legislative Council, Sir Donald Edward Jackson, as the symbol of his authority from the Crown, and was formally put into use forthwith.
Charles Benjamin Cadogan, who was the substantive holder of the office of Marshal (re-designated Sergeant- at-Arms from the time of Independence in 1966), was on leave at the time and Kenneth Carnegie King was performing the duties of Marshal in his absence, thereby becoming the first person to bear the Mace.
With the decision that Guyana should become a Republic on 23rd February, 1970, a Special Committee of the National Assembly (PNC Administration) advised the Speaker that on account of the appearance of the Royal Cypher and other Royal Symbols on the Mace used in the National Assembly, it was necessary for some change to be made from Republic Day.

It was therefore decided that the Head of the Mace should be replaced by one containing Guyana’s Coat of Arms.
The design for the new Head was prepared by the Designs and Graphics Division of the Ministry of Information and Culture, and the new Head itself was made by the Demerara Foundry Company, Limited, in Guyana.

The cost of the new Head was borne by the Booker Group of Companies in Guyana and the presentation was made at a simple Ceremony on 21st February, 1970.

The Mace, with its new Head but with the same old stem, was put into use from Republic Day, 23rd February, 1970.
166 PRAYERS READ IN THE LEGISLATURE Following their practice in their Parliament, the British introduced the reading of Prayers in the British Guiana Legislative Council from the time of its establishment.

Our records from the 1928 Legislative Council show that on Ceremonial Occasions, Prayers were read in the Legislative bodies by the Head of the Anglican Church in British Guiana, who was the Bishop of Guiana (the Rt.

Rev.

Oswald H. Parry) and later the Archbishop of the West Indies (the Most Rev.
Dr. Alan John Knight).

On other occasions, from 1953, the Prayers were read by the Speaker.

The Speaker subsequently delegated the reading of the Prayers to the Clerk of the Legislative body.

A Committee examined the Prayers which were used and amended them to make them general rather than having bearing towards Christianity.
The following are the Prayers which are read by the Clerk of the National Assembly at the beginning of every sitting (including Ceremonial Occasions) of the Legislative body:- “Almighty God, we, who are here gathered together, do most humbly beseech Thee to guide us in all our consultations, so that we may together build a land where knowledge is free, where the mind is without fear and the head is held high, and where words come from the depth of truth.
Grant us, O God, Thine aid and guidance, so that we may deal justly, with the several causes that come before us, laying aside all private interests, prejudices and personal preferences, so that the result of our counsels may be to the glory of Thy Blessed Name, the maintenance of true religion, the 167 preservation of justice, the safety, honour and happiness of the President and the peace and prosperity of Guyana.
Grant us, O God, the vision so to lead, that all the people of this fair land may enter into that state of brotherhood and unity, where the mind is led forward by Thee into everwidening thought and action.” OATHS BY MEMBERS The taking of an Oath of Allegiance by a Legislator has been an old requirement and has been recorded from since the first British established Legislative Council in 1928.
Members were required in the Oath to either swear or to affirm to be faithful and bear true allegiance to the British Monarch.

The 1966 Constitution required Members to take two Oaths – the Oath of Allegiance and an Oath of Office.

The Oath of Allegiance to the British Monarch was no longer required from the time that Guyana became a Republic on 23rd February, 1970.
Every Member of the National Assembly is required by the Constitution to make and subscribe in the Assembly an Oath of Office before he can take part in the proceedings of the Assembly.

The only proceedings in which a Member is permitted to take part before he has made and subscribed the Oath are those in connection with the election of a Speaker and of a Deputy Speaker after a general election.
The Oath is administered by the Clerk of the National Assembly first to the Speaker and Deputy Speaker and then to the other Members of the Assembly.

On other occasions, the Oath is administered after Prayers.
168 The form of the present Oath to be taken by Parliamentarians is as follows:- “I, ………………………………………….., do hereby solemnly declare that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the People of Guyana, that I will faithfully execute the office of Member of the National Assembly without fear or favour, affection or ill-will and that in the execution of the functions of that office I will honour, uphold and preserve the Constitution of the Co- operative Republic of Guyana.” In making the Oath, Members are free to use the religious book of their choice, that is, the Bhagavadgita, the Bible (Any Version), the Koran, or the Ramayan, etc.
FORMS OF ADDRESSING THE SPEAKER AND MEMBERS Formerly, when the Governor presided in the Legislative Council, he would have been addressed as Your Excellency.

Members were referred to as Honourable Members and with their official designations or by their nominations or by their constituencies.
In accordance with a direction of the Governor given when the Office of Speaker was first established in 1953, and published in the Official Gazette of Friday, 22nd May, 1953, the Speaker is to be addressed as “His Honour”.

In the National Assembly, Members, by convention, address the Speaker as “Mr.

Speaker”.

Members are addressed as “The Honourable Member”.

In 1975, a Parliamentary Committee (PNC Administration) recommended that the title “Comrade” could also be used.
On 11th July, 1975, the National Assembly amended its Standing Orders to give effect to the Committee’s recommendation.

169 In accordance with the Standing Order – No.

41(5) – a Member of the National Assembly shall be referred to in the Assembly either with the title “Comrade” before his or her surname or official designation or as the “Honourable Member Mr./Ms …………”.
In a decision of the Government (PNC Administration) contained in a Notice published in the Official Gazette of Saturday, 4th June, 1966 (following Guyana’s attainment of Independence on 26th May, 1966), Members of the National Assembly are designated “Members of Parliament” and are entitled to use the abbreviation “M.P.” after their names.

The Speaker and the Ministers are, by convention, addressed as “The Hon.” before their names.
Being an MP is the sort of job all working-class parents want for their children – clean, indoors and no heavy lifting.

(Diane Abbott, British Labour Politician, 1994) RECESS FOR THE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY Prior to 1986, there was no recess fixed for the National Assembly.
On 4th February, 1986, the President, Hugh Desmond Hoyte (PNC), in his address to the National Assembly, on the occasion of the Ceremonial Opening of the Fifth Parliament of Guyana, observed that there was no provision in the Standing Orders up to that time for the National Assembly to go into recess during a year.
The National Assembly noted the observation and, on 16th July, 1986, passed a Resolution amending its Standing Orders to provide for an annual recess for the National Assembly from 10th August to 10th October.

The recess became effective from the year 1986.

170 The National Assembly therefore goes into recess every year from 10th August to 10th October and, during this period, no sittings of the Assembly would be held unless there are special reasons for doing so.
PROROGATION AND DISSOLUTION Dissolution A dissolution of the Legislature ends the life of that particular legislative body.

The length of this life is usually stated in the Constitution.

It has either been 4 years or 5 years.

The life of the present Parliamentary body in Guyana is 5 years.
The Governor, Governor-General from Independence on 26th May, 1966, and President from the Republican status on 23rd February, 1970, had/has the power to dissolve a legislative body at any time on or before the expiration of its constitutional life.

When a legislative body has been dissolved, all persons who were legislators cease to be legislators and all business pending come to an end.
However, the holders of certain offices, such as the Speaker, the Ministers, the Leader of the Opposition, Parliamentary Secretaries, and the Deputy Speaker continue until replaced after a general election.

A general election of Members for the next legislative body has to be held after a dissolution.

Under the present Constitution, a general election has to be held on such day within three months after a dissolution as the President shall appoint by Proclamation.
171 Prorogation A prorogation of a legislative body closes a session of that body.

It does not bring the life of the body to an end and Members of that body do not cease to be legislators.

The British practice is to prorogue Parliament (i.e., close a session) once every year and open another session thereafter of the same legislative body.
On the Opening of a New Session of the British Parliament, the Monarch attends the House of Lords (with the Commons in attendance) reads a Speech from the Throne, and opens the new session.

The British practice of proroguing a session and opening a new session once every year was carried out in Guyana.

Speeches were read and sessions were opened by the Governor.

However, this practice faded out in Guyana and has reached the stage where Parliament is now no longer prorogued during its life.
TABLE OF PRECEDENCE It appears as if formerly there was no approved Table of Precedence.

In the Report of the Republic Committee dated August 19, 1969, the Committee recommended that the Government should give a high priority to the issue of an approved Table of Precedence.

A Table of Precedence for Guyana was prepared 21 years ago.

It was approved by the Cabinet and was published in the Gazette on Saturday, 12th October, 1985.
It is useful for the Members of the National Assembly to know and also to have readily available to them information on precedence in Guyana and where they fall in the Table.

172 Such information can be found in the Table of Precedence.

I have reproduced below the Table and the Notes thereon.

I have underlined the various categories of the Members of the National Assembly wherever they appear on the Table.

The Table 1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

7.

8.

9.

10.

11.

12.

13.

14.

15.

16.

17.

18.

19.


20.

21.

22.

23.

24.
The President The Prime Minister The Deputy Leader of the Political Party in Office The Chancellor The Speaker Vice-Presidents Deputy Prime Ministers Former Presidents Members of the Order of Excellence Former Prime Ministers Senior Ministers Other Cabinet Ministers Ministers Ministers of State The Attorney-General, if not a Minister Central Executive Members of the Political Party in office The Chairman of the National Congress of Local Democratic Organs (a) Ambassadors and High Commissioners (b) The Secretary-General of Caricom (c) The Senior Accredited Representative of the United Nations The Minority Leader The Chief Justice Justices of Appeal Members of the Order of Roraima The Ombudsman The Mayor of Georgetown 173 25.
26.

27.

28.

29.

Charges d’Affaires and acting High Commissioners Parliamentary Secretaries The Deputy Speaker The Head of each Political Party represented in Parliament (a) Puisne Judges (b) The Solicitor General (c ) The Director of Public Prosecutions (d) The Chief Parliamentary Counsel 30.
The Deputy Chairman of the National Congress of Local Democratic Organs Members of Parliament Members of the National Congress of Local Democratic Organs The Head of the Presidential Secretariat The Chief of Staff (a) The Chairman of the Elections Commission (b) The Chairman of the Public Service Commission (c) The Chairman of the Teaching Service Commission (d) The Chairman of the Police Service Commission Retired Chancellors Regional Chairmen The Chancellor of the University of Guyana The Pro-Chancellor of the University of Guyana The Auditor General (a) The Deputy Chiefs of Mission, Deputy High Commissioners or other equivalent in Embassies or High Commissions Consuls-General Accredited Chief Representatives of International Organisations The Clerk of the National Assembly (a) The Secretary to the Treasury (b) Permanent Secretaries Executive Secretaries of the Political Party in office Mayors of Municipalities other than the City of Georgetown Retired Vice-Presidents 31.
32.

33.

34.

35.

36.

37.

38.

39.

40.

(b) (c) 42.

43.

44.

45.

46.

174 47.

48.

49.

The Vice-Chancellor of the University of Guyana The Governor of the Bank of Guyana (a) The Commissioner of Police (b) The Commander of the Guyana Defence Force (c ) The Director-General of the Guyana National Service (d) The Commander of the Guyana People’s Militia 50.
The Chief Executive Officer of the authority responsible for Public Corporations Heads of Government Departments Chairmen of Public Corporations and Statutory Boards The President of the Trades Union Congress The President of the Georgetown Chamber of Commerce Presidential Advisers Deputy Chairmen of Service Commissions (a) Members of the Elections Commission 51.

52.

53.

54.

55.

56.

57.

(b) Members of the Judicial, Public, Police and Teaching Service Commissions 58.
(a) Consuls (b) First Secretaries (c ) Trade Commissioners 59.

60.

61.

62.

Vice-Chairmen of Regional Councils Senior Government Officers Managers of Corporations Holders of the C.C.H.

and equivalent awards 63.

Members of Regional Councils 64.

65.

66.

67.

68.

69.

70.

Holders of the A.A. and equivalent awards Members of Sub-Regional Councils Holders of the M.S.
and equivalent awards Members of District Councils Members of Community Councils Members of Neighbourhood Councils Members of People’s Co-operative Unit Councils 175 Notes to the Table of Precedence (a) There being no State Church in Guyana, the Heads of religious bodies do not appear on the official list of precedence.

On formal occasions when they are present, courtesy precedence may be assigned to them appropriate to the occasion.
(b) Persons holding office in the same category (for example, Senior Ministers, fellow chairmen of public corporations or of the same rank of local democratic organs, members of a constitutional or other commission or of a local democratic organ) take precedence among themselves according to the date on which they assumed their offices, provided that where two or more persons assumed office on the same day they shall rank in the alphabetical order of their last names.
(c) Ambassadors and High Commissioners (18(a)) take precedence according to the date of presentation of their credentials or, in the case of High Commissioners who do not present letters of credence or similar letters, according to the date of arrival in Georgetown.

(d) Mayors of municipalities other than the City of Georgetown take precedence among themselves according to the date of establishment of their municipalities.
(e) The head of any local democratic organ (including the Mayor of the City of Georgetown) shall, within the district of his own local democratic organ, take precedence immediately after the senior member of the Cabinet present on any occasion sponsored by or associated with that organ.

(f) Heads of Government Departments (51) and Senior Government Officers (60) take precedence according to salary and, where salaries are equal, their dates of appointment.
176 (g) As between officers of the Guyana Defence Force (including the Guyana National Service, and the Guyana People’s Militia) and officers of the Guyana Police Force, the Commissioner of Police ranks with Colonels, the Deputy Commissioners and Assistant Commissioners with Lieutenants- Colonel, Senior Superintendents and Superintendents with Majors, Deputy Superintendents with Captains and Assistant Superintendents with Lieutenants.
(h) A person falling within more than one category of precedence shall be assigned the higher or highest category, as the case may be, provided that retired persons serving in an office carrying eligibility for precedence shall take the precedence assigned to that office.

(i) The spouse of a person entitled to precedence shall follow immediately after that person.

(j) Precedence in relation to holders of the O.R.


and subordinate National Honours will be observed on those occasions on which medals and other insignia are expected to be worn.

(k) The Table of Precedence is not expected to apply throughout all of its items on every occasion.

The extent to which it will apply will be determined by the nature of each occasion.
(l) Depending on the nature of the particular occasion, courtesy precedence may be assigned to persons who have retired from high offices and other categories.

177 REFERENCES/SUGGESTIONS FOR FURTHER PARLIAMENT OFFICE RECORDS -Copies of Orders of –in- Council, the Constitutions etc.
HANSARDS (official Reports and Index of the Debates…) GECOM Elections Results HISTORICAL Publications and other texts as referred to on page 25 OFFICIAL GAZETTES of the respective periods NATIONAL ASSEMBLY Oath Books, Minutes (as at first reference, above) PARLIAMENT OFFICE NEWSLETTERS – on Mace, Public Buildings etc.

THE STANDING ORDERS of the National Assembly Report of the Republic Committee – August 1969 Table of Precedence – Protocol Office, Office of the President.
178 PART IX COMMITTEES The Finance Committee of the Legislative Council Legislative Council Advisory Committees The Public Accounts Committee Other Committees 179 COMMITTEES THE FINANCE COMMITTEE OF THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL In September 1930, a Finance Committee of the Legislative Council, comprising all the Elected Members of the Legislative Council, the Colonial Secretary, the Colonial Treasurer and some of the Nominated Members, was established.
The duty of the Finance Committee was to examine the Estimates before they were presented to the Legislative Council.

In 1942, the Finance Committee was reconstituted to consist of the Governor, the Colonial Secretary, the Colonial Treasurer and all of the Unofficial Members of the Legislative Council.

The Finance Committee later consisted of all Members of the Legislative Council with the Financial Secretary as Chairman.

This Committee subsequently went out of existence.


LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL ADVISORY COMMITTEES In 1943, for the first time, the Governor established three Legislative Council Advisory Committees along the lines recommended by the Moyne Commission, except that he himself nominated all of the Members.

Each Committee was chaired by a Member of the Executive Council.

The first three Committees related respectively to the Departments of – Agriculture (including Fisheries), Education, and Public Works.
180 The two main functions of the Committees were to – (i) examine the lines of legislation, and (ii) frame the Departmental Estimates.

With the establishment in 1953 of a Ministerial system of Government and the allocation of portfolios to Ministers, the Legislative Council Advisory Committees went out of existence.

THE PUBLIC ACCOUNTS COMMITTEE (Standing Orders Nos.

80 and 82) There was no provision prior to 1957 for the examination by the Legislature of the Public Accounts.
A Public Accounts Committee was first established in British Guiana in 1957.
The following were the first Members of the Public Accounts Committee:- William Oscar Rudyard Kendall (UDP) Fred Bowman (PPP(J)) Andrew Leonard Jackson (PPP(B)) Rahman Baccus Gajraj (Nominated Member) Anthony Greaves Tasker (Nominated Member) The duty of the Public Accounts Committee is to examine the accounts showing the appropriation of the sums granted by the Assembly to meet public expenditure and such other accounts laid before the Assembly as the Assembly may refer to the Committee together with the Auditor General’s Report thereon.
By tradition, the Chairman of the Public Accounts Committee was a Member of the Opposition.

It is now stated in the Standing Orders of the National Assembly that the Chairman of the Public Accounts Committee must be a Member of the main Opposition in the Assembly.

181 OTHER COMMITTEES The present Standing Orders have provided for the establishment of the following Committees:- Standing Committees (Standing Orders Nos.
80 and 86): The Committee of Selection The Public Accounts Committee The Constitution Reform Committee The Committee on Appointments The Parliamentary Management Committee The following Sectoral Committees:- Committee on Natural Resources Committee on Economic Services Committee on Foreign Relations Committee on Social Services Sessional Select Committees (Standing Orders Nos.
87 to 91): The Standing Orders Committee The Assembly Committee The Committee of Privileges The Statutory Instruments Committee Special Select Committees (Standing Order No.

92): To be nominated by Resolution of the National Assembly Also in existence, as established by the Standing Orders is The Committee of Supply (Standing Order No.

72), and The Business Sub-Committee of the Committee of Supply (Standing Order No.

74).
182 PART X SERVICES TO THE LEGISLATURE The Colonial Secretary’s Office The Office of the Legislature The First Staff of the Office of the Legislature The Parliament Office The Present Staff of the Parliament Office The Clerks and the Deputy Clerks The Hansard Editors The Sergeants-At-Arms Mission Statement of the Parliament Office Drafting of Laws – Chief Parliamentary Counsel 183 THE COLONIAL SECRETARY’S OFFICE Up to April 1953, there were no Ministries, no Ministers, no Permanent Secretaries, and no Service Commissions in the Government Service of British Guiana.
The Colonial Secretary’s Office (CSO), headed by the Colonial Secretary, was responsible for the administrative functions of the Government of the Colony.

These also included personnel matters – recruitments/appointments, promotions, transfers, resignations, retirements, salaries and allowances, pensions, etc.
In performing its functions, the CSO was assisted by two other key Officials – the Attorney General and the Colonial Treasurer – and by the Heads of the other Government Departments which were then in existence.

There was also no Speaker up to that time and no separate Department to serve the Legislature.

These services were also provided by the Staff in the Colonial Secretary’s Office.

The Officer designated Clerk of the Legislative Council was a member of the Staff of the Colonial Secretary’s Office.
Within the CSO, there were Officers who were known as ‘Charge Officers’ who were assigned and who dealt with and considered specific matters.

Matters were, if necessary, referred higher up – reaching the Colonial Secretary himself, then the Governor, then the Secretary of State for the Colonies at the Colonial Office in London.

The Governor of the Colony presided over the meetings of the Executive Council and also of the Legislative Council as its President.
The Colonial Secretary, the Attorney General and the Colonial Treasurer were ex officio Members of both the Executive Council and the Legislative Council.

184 The CSO compiled, kept and maintained files, records, reports, publications, Gazettes, legislation, parliamentary debates, etc.

There were files with correspondence on all matters – matters in general as well as on individuals which included all the staff in the Government Service of British Guiana (Personal Files - PFs).
These records also included those relating to the Legislature.

In 1953, a new Constitution was introduced in British Guiana.
The Constitutional arrangements provided, inter alia, for the first time, for – The introduction of a Ministerial system of Government (Establishment of Ministries and appointment of Ministers) The Office of Speaker (To preside at Meetings of the Legislative body in the place of the Governor) The establishment of a new and separate Department – called the Office of the Legislature – with its own Staff headed by a Clerk of the Legislature – to serve the new bicameral Legislature (The State Council and the House of Assembly) The phasing out, prior to its abolition, of the Colonial Secretary’s Office and the transfer there from of the Staff and of the responsibilities to the new and smaller successor Chief Secretary’s Office, and to the new Office of the Legislature and to the new Ministries and/or other Government Departments.
These new proposals came into effect from 8th April, 1953.

The Chief Secretary’s Office went out of existence when Guyana became independent on 26th May, 1966.
The following are some (most) of the Staff of the Colonial Secretary’s Office from April, 1951, when the Producer of the information herein first joined 185 the Government Service on the Staff of the Colonial Secretary’s Office, to April, 1953, when that Office went out of existence and the Producer was taken over to the new Office of the Legislature.

There are also some Staff of the successor Chief Secretary’s Office:- 1.

Arthur Alexander Abraham 38.

Louis Emile Kranenburg 2.

Carlton V. Alert 3.


Muriel Olga Bardon 39.

Subadrie Lall 40.

Lorraine Lee 4.

Norman Eleazer Bishop 41.

Frank Allan Leubin 5.

Patrick Francis Brumell 6.

Eileen Butts 7.

Joan Chapman 8.

Thora Chester 42.

Joan Lewis 43.

Carmen Li 44.

Jack O.B.

Lyndsey 45.

John Clement David Malone 9.

Lionel Clyde Choong 46.

Elsa Mansell 10.

Harry Christiani 47.

Randolph Leland Morgan 11.

Richard Archibald Chung 48.

Randolph Eric Oswald Moriah 12.

Kenneth Hamilton Cregan 49.


Frank Alston Narain 13.

Alexander Irving Crum Ewing 50.

Victor Newton 14.

William Peter D’Andrade 51.

Hazel Pancham 15.

Sheila D’Ornellas 52.

Desmond John Parkinson 16.

Joyce Elfrida Durham 53.

Pamela Paul 17.

Gertrude Dyett 18.

Barbara Eleazer 19.

Gerald Ellis 20.

Joseph Faria 54.

Neville Pestano 55.

Yvonne Phang 56.

Eustace Henri Reis 57.

Olive Eugenie Rose 21.

Duncan Aubrey Farnum 58.

John Russell 22.

Eugenie Ann Veronica Ferreira 59.

Schuler 23.


Ernest David Ford 24.

Geoffrey Hugh Fryer 25.

Olga Fung 26.

Joyce Gittens 27.

Dorothy Gomes 28.

Edith Grannum 60.

Lloyd Searwar 61.

Theresa Serrao 62.

Leonard Denis Shaw 63.

Greta Ilean Simpson 64.

Dhanpat Singh 65.

Colin Small 29.

Harold Arthur Grimshaw 66.

Guy Norman Spence 186 30.

John Gutch 67.

Beryl Taylor 31.

James Washington Harper-Smith 68.

Maisie Tiam Fook 32.

Shirley Nancy Ho-A-Yen 69.

Daphne Too Chung 33.


Robert Montgomery Holder 70.

Donald Trotman 34.

Walter B.

Hope 71.

Ena Vieira 35.

Rashleigh Esmond Jackson 72.

Monica Vincent 36.

Grace Jordan 37.

Sonny Kong 73.

Charles Henry Willings THE OFFICE OF THE LEGISLATURE With the introduction in 1953 of a new Constitution, provision was made for the first time for a Ministerial system of Government and for the Office of Speaker.
A new and separate Department, which was called the Office of the Legislature, was established from 8th April, 1953, with its own Staff and a Clerk of the Legislature as its head, to serve the new Bicameral Legislature (the State Council and the House of Assembly).

The new Office was accommodated in a part of the eastern section of the top floor of the Public Buildings, not far from the Parliament Chamber, which occupied the north-eastern section of the top floor.
THE FIRST STAFF OF THE OFFICE OF THE LEGISLATURE The first Staff of the new Office of the Legislature, who were all Public Officers, consisted of the following 12 (twelve) persons:- From 8th April, 1953 1.

Alexander Irving Crum Ewing, Clerk of the Legislature 2.

Harold Arthur Grimshaw, Official Reporter 3.

Frank Allan Leubin, Official Reporter 4.

Robert Montgomery Holder, Official Reporter 5.

Frank Alston Narain, Class II Clerk 187 6.

Ena A. Vieira, Senior Clerical Assistant 7.


Kenneth Carnegie King, Messenger From 22nd April, 1953 8.

Sheila Mary Mittelholzer, Clerical Assistant From 4th May, 1953 9.

Ingram Randolph King, Assistant Clerk of the Legislature From 11th May, 1953 10.

Albert Singh, Messenger From 16th May, 1953 11.

Charles Benjamin Cadogan, Marshal From 25th June, 1953 12.
Lloyd George Rohlehr, Official Reporter THE PARLIAMENT OFFICE When British Guiana became Independent as Guyana on 26th May, 1966 – • the Office of the Legislature was renamed the Parliament Office • The Offices of Clerk of the Legislature and Assistant Clerk of the Legislature were re-designated Clerk of the National Assembly and Deputy Clerk of the National Assembly, respectively, and became Constitutional Offices outside of the Public Service • The Office of Marshal was re-designated Sergeant-at-Arms.
188 THE PRESENT STAFF OF THE PARLIAMENT OFFICE Today – just over 53 years since the establishment of the Parliament Office in 1953 – the Staff has increased from 12 to 56 and the Parliament Office now has the entire Public Buildings at its disposal after occupying the same small space in the Building for nearly 40 years and after over a decade of representations.

The following are the present Staff at the Parliament Office:- 1.

Sherlock Ewart Isaacs, Clerk of the National Assembly 2.
Somna Muridall, Confidential Secretary 3.

Lilawtie Coonjah, Deputy Clerk of the National Assembly 4.

Eleanor Coddett, Confidential Secretary 5.

Bibi Baldeo, Principal Assistant Secretary (Finance) 6.

Maurice Berthswindel Henry, Head of Committees 7.

Rukhmin Chand, Confidential Secretary 8.

Oscar Etra Moore, Clerk of Committees 9.

Deborah Cadogan, Assistant Head of Committees 10.

Claudia Greenidge, Clerk of Committees 11.

Debra Gray, Assistant Clerk of Committees 12.


Sonia Maxwell, Assistant Clerk of Committees 13.

Sherene Warren, Assistant Clerk of Committees 14.

Nazir Hoosein, Clerk II (G) 15.

Sueanna Reynolds, Word Processor Operator 16.

Orwell Ogle, Office Assistant 17.

Tanzadell Bentinck, Clerk II (G) 18.

Ingrid Ifill, Accountant 19.

Debbie St. Hill, Assistant Accountant 20.

Letta Barker, Accounts Clerk III 21.

Latchmin Sukhoo, Accounts Clerk II 22.

Tracy Armstrong, Accounts Clerk II 23.


Tisha Thornhill, Accounts Clerk II 189 24.

Sofia Husain, Accounts Clerk II 25.

Jaitun Haniff, Confidential Secretary 26.

Deslyn West, Registry Supervisor (Ag.)

27.

Serojanie Ramlall, Typist Clerk II 28.

Carla Baird, Typist Clerk I 29.

Michelle Singh, Typist Clerk I 30.

Dhanram Kungbeharry, Sergeant-At-Arms 31.

Etwaroo Jagernath, Assistant Sergeant-At-Arms 32.

Desiree Grant, Telephonist 33.

Denise King, Maid 34.


Parmanand Balgobin, Senior Office Assistant 35.

Trevor Balgobin, Office Assistant 36.

Hermina Gilgeours, Research & Analytical Assistant 37.

Michael Munroe, Research & Analytical Assistant 38.

Antonette Schwartz, Librarian III 39.

Eaton McKenzie, Librarian II 40.

Nicola Wray, Maid/Cleaner 41.

Monette Garnett, Expenditure Planning & Management Analyst II 42.

Dorwayne Lagadeau, Clerk II (G) 43.

Deo Dookie, Systems Development Co-ordinator 44.


Avindra Somwaru, Stores Clerk/Expeditor 45.

Toshika Xavier, Word Processor Operator 46.

Keith Joseph, Driver 47.

Anthony Szala, Driver 48.

Percival Williams, Driver 48.

Debra Westford, Receptionist (Security) 50.

Mavernie Richardson, Cleaner 51.

Cheryl Thomas, Cleaner 52.

Patricia Blair, Cleaner 53.

Norah Edun, Cleaner 54.

Olga Aaron, Cleaner 55.

Wayne Lynch, Compound Attendant 56.


Avinash Gariba, Book Repair Assistant 190 THE CLERKS AND THE DEPUTY CLERKS Prior to 1953, one Officer from the Staff of the Colonial Secretary’s Office, designated Clerk of the Legislative Council, sat at The Table in the Council Chamber during sittings of the Legislative Council.
With the introduction in 1953 of a new Constitution providing, inter alia, for the first time, for a Ministerial system of Government, and the Office of Speaker, provision was also made for a new and separate Department, the Office of the Legislature, with its own Staff, headed by an Officer designated Clerk of the Legislature, to serve the new bicameral Legislature.
The new Staff included for the first time, a Senior Officer, designated Assistant Clerk of the Legislature, to assist the Clerk of the Legislature as a Table Officer and at the new Office.
The designations of Clerk of the Legislature and Assistant Clerk of the Legislature were changed to Clerk of the National Assembly and Deputy Clerk of the National Assembly, respectively, from the time of Guyana’s attainment of Independence (26th May, 1966), and became Constitutional Offices outside of the Public Service.
The persons who have held the Offices of Clerk of the Legislative Council/ Clerk of the Legislature/Clerk of the National Assembly and Assistant Clerk of the Legislature/ Deputy Clerk of the National Assembly, are as follows:- Clerk of the Legislative Council (From Within the Colonial Secretary’s Office) 1947 to 1953 Alexander Irving Crum Ewing, O.B.E., Clerk of the Legislative Council Clerks of the Legislature (As Head of the Parliament Office) (Public Service Officials) 191 1953 to 1963 Alexander Irving Crum Ewing, O.B.E., Clerk of the Legislature 1963 to 1966 Elwyn Valentine Viapree, Clerk of the Legislature Clerks of the National Assembly (Appointed by the Governor-General (President from Republican status in 1970), acting in accordance with the advice of the Speaker) 1966 to 2002 Frank Alston Narain, A.A., C.C.H., Clerk of the National Assembly Since 2002 Sherlock Ewart Isaacs, Clerk of the National Assembly Assistant Clerks of the Legislature (Public Service Officials) 1953 to 1954 Ingram Randolph King 1954 Herbert Harold Tross 1954 to 1963 Elwyn Valentine Viapree 1963 to 1966 Frank Alston Narain Deputy Clerks of the National Assembly (Appointed by the Governor-General (President from Republican status in 1970), acting in accordance with the advice of the Speaker) 1966 to 1986 Maurice Berthswindel Henry 192 1987 Ivor Hartman George Edward Fitzgerald Moses 1992 to 2002 Sherlock Ewart Isaacs Since 2002 Lilawtie Coonjah THE HANSARD EDITORS Hansard is the name given and used by the British, from the name of
 the first Printer, to the reports of the proceedings and the verbatim records of the debates of the Parliamentary bodies.
The name is known and is also used in some of the Commonwealth Parliaments.

“Parliamentary Debates” is also the name used.

Qualified high speed shorthand writers, designated Official Reporters, on the Staff of Parliament, record the proceedings and produce copies which are edited by another Parliament Office Official, designated Hansard Editor, and printed.

The post of Hansard Editor was first created in Guyana from 1st January, 1968, as a post at the Parliament Office.
The holder of the Office was responsible for the preparation of the Hansard and for supervising the work of the Official Reporters.

The following are the persons who have held the Office of Hansard Editor:- 1968 to 1978 Eileen Rosalie Cox 1978 to 1984 Cecelia Glysis Pompey The responsibility for the production of Hansard was handed over to a Private Contractor following the 1992 General Elections.

193 The first Contractor was Gordon Forte.

The present Contractor is FCE Systems (Leslie Forester).
THE SERGEANTS-AT-ARMS The post of Sergeant-at-Arms for the National Assembly is a post in the Public Service with the Public Service terms and conditions of employment.

Prior to 1953, the Office was called Custodian, Council Chamber.

There was no Mace and there were no Mace-bearing duties to be carried out.

With the establishment in 1953 of the Office of Speaker, a Mace was required.

The post of Custodian was changed to Marshal from 1953.
From the time of Independence on 26th May, 1966, the Office was re- designated Sergeant-at-Arms.
The following are the persons who have held the Office:- 1939 to 1953 Charles Henry Willings, Custodian, Council Chamber 1953 to 1976 Charles Benjamin Cadogan, M.S., Marshal from 1953, Sergeant-at-Arms from 1966 1976 to 2002 Kenneth Carnegie King, M.S., Sergeant-at-Arms Since 2002 Dhanram Kungbeharry, Sergeant-at-Arms 194 MISSION STATEMENT OF THE PARLIAMENT OFFICE The following is the Mission Statement of the Parliament Office:- TO PROVIDE ADMINISTRATIVE AND CLERICAL SUPPORT FOR THE EFFICIENT CONDUCT OF THE BUSINESS OF THE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY, PARLIAMENTARY COMMITTEES AND SUB-COMMITTEES.
ALSO TO PROVIDE LOCAL SECRETARIAL SERVICES IN RESPECT OF MATTERS PERTAINING TO THOSE INTERNATIONAL ORGANISATIONS WITH WHICH THE PARLIAMENT OF GUYANA HOLDS MEMBERSHIP.

195 DRAFTING OF LAWS - CHIEF PARLIAMENTARY COUNSEL The Bills which are brought to the Legislative body for consideration and passing and for assent by the President as Acts of Parliament are prepared and drafted in the Attorney General’s Chambers by an Officer designated Chief Parliamentary Counsel.
The Title prior to 1968 was Legal Draftsman.

The present Chief Parliamentary Counsel is Cecil Dhurjon, CCH, SC.

The following are some of the persons who have been involved in performing the duties of legal drafting:- Edgar Mortimer Duke Joseph Alexander Luckhoo (Jr.) Guya L.B.
Persaud, CCH Sir Shridath Surendranath Ramphal, OE, OCC, CMG, SC Richard Michael Forbes Delph Brynmor Thornton Innis Pollard, CCH, SC Keith S. Massiah, OR Cecil Dhurjon, CCH, SC 196 REFERENCES/SUGGESTIONS FOR FURTHER COPIES OF ORDERS-IN-COUNCIL—Governors Office – 1930-1957 STANDING ORDERS – 1957 Onwards (Nos.
80.82) ORDERS FROM COLONIAL SECRETARY’S OFFICE (CSO), Constitutions of BG and Republic of Guyana (1953 onwards) PERSONAL FILES – Parliament Office – from the Legislative Councils, the Legislatures and the National Assembly.

RECORDS OF MINISTRY OF LEGAL AFFAIRS AND ATTORNEY- GENERAL’S OFFICE.
197 PART XI DOCUMENTS Some Important Parliamentary Documents Constitutional Instruments The Standing Orders Ordinances/Acts The Parliamentary Library 198 SOME IMPORTANT PARLIAMENTARY DOCUMENTS The following are some of the important Parliamentary documents:- The Constitution This is the supreme law of Guyana and has established the Parliament of Guyana.

The Standing Orders These are the rules of the procedure of the National Assembly and are made by the National Assembly.
Oaths An Oath is required to be made and subscribed in the National Assembly by each Member of the Assembly.

Order Paper An Order Paper is the Notice of and Agenda for a Sitting of the National Assembly.

It contains the business for the Sitting.

Supplementary Order Paper A Supplementary Order Paper contains additional business for a Sitting.

Bill A Bill is a proposed law which is brought to the National Assembly for consideration.
Act When a Bill is passed by the National Assembly and assented to by the President, it becomes a law – an Act of Parliament.

Ordinance Ordinance was the name given to laws enacted by the Legislature prior to Independence on 26th May, 1966.

Act has been the name used thereafter.

199 Statements by Ministers Ministers can make special statements on important matters at Sittings of the National Assembly.
Notice Papers (With Motions and Questions) These contain Notices of Motions and Questions submitted by Members and approved by the Speaker, for consideration by the National Assembly or for Answers by Ministers.

Resolutions Motions passed by the National Assembly become Resolutions of the National Assembly.

Replies to Questions These are the Replies given by Ministers to the formal Questions submitted by Members of the National Assembly.
Budget Speeches A Budget Speech is the annual financial statement which the Minister of Finance makes in the National Assembly when he presents to the Assembly the Estimates of Expenditure for a year and moves the motion for the approval of the Estimates.

Estimates Estimates are the Government’s detailed proposals of the revenues and expenditure for a financial year laid in the National Assembly for approval by the Assembly.
Supplementary Estimates (Financial Papers) Supplementary Estimates are brought to the National Assembly during the year for approval by the Assembly.

200 Minutes Minutes of the proceedings of each sitting of the National Assembly are required by the Standing Orders to be prepared by the Clerk of the National Assembly.

They contain the names of the Members who attend, the decisions taken and the details of divisions.
Hansard Hansard is the name given and used by the British, from the name of the first printer, to the official verbatim reports of the proceedings and debates of the Parliamentary bodies.

This name is known and is also used in some of the Commonwealth countries.

‘Parliamentary debates’ is also the name used.

Gazettes The Official Gazette is a document which is published every Saturday by the authority of the Government.
Extraordinary issues of the Gazette are published on such other days as are required.

The Legal Supplement to the Gazette contains Acts, Bills and Subsidiary Legislation.

Reports and Other Documents Laid Several Reports and other documents are laid before the National Assembly.

201 CONSTITUTIONAL INSTRUMENTS The following are some of the Constitutional Instruments:- 1739 1891 On 26th May, 1739, the Dutch established a Constitution.
3rd February, 1891 – The British Guiana Constitution Ordinance, 1891 (No.
1 of 1891) 1928 The British Guiana Act, 1928 Enacted by the British Parliament – 28th March, 1928 The British Guiana (Constitution) Order in Council, 1928 Made by the King in Council on 13th July, 1928 1935 The British Guiana (Constitution) (Amendment) Order in Council, 1935 1940 The British Guiana (Legislative Council – Extension of Duration) Order in Council, 1940 1943 The British Guiana (Constitution) (Amendment) Order in Council, 1943 1945 The British Guiana (Constitution) (Amendment) Order in Council, 1945 1949 The British Guiana (Constitution) (Amendment) Order in Council, 1949 1952 The British Guiana (Legislative Council – Extension of Duration) Order in Council, 1952 1953 The British Guiana (Constitution) Order in Council, 1953, 202 provided for the establishment and constitution of a new Executive Council and a new Legislature for British Guiana Made by the Queen in Council on 1st April, 1953 The British Guiana (Constitution) (Amendment) Order in Council, 1953 1953/1954 The British Guiana (Constitution) (Temporary Provisions) Order in Council, 1953 1956 The British Guiana (Constitution) (Temporary Provisions) (Amendment) Order in Council, 1956 1961 The British Guiana (Constitution) Order in Council, 1961, with a Constitution for British Guiana Made by the Queen in Council on 26th June, 1961 1966 The Guyana Independence Act, 1966 Enacted by the British Parliament on 12th May, 1966 The Guyana Independence Order, 1966, with a new Constitution for Guyana Made by the Queen in Council on 16th May, 1966
 1969/1970 By Resolution No.
26 which was passed by the National Assembly on 29th August, 1969, the amendments to the Independence Constitution providing for Guyana’s status as a Republic from 23rd February, 1970, became effective.

1980 The Constitution of the Co-operative Republic of Guyana Enacted by the Parliament of Guyana by the Constitution of the Co-operative Republic of Guyana Act 1980 (Act No.

2 of 1980) Since 1980 Several Amendments have been made to the Constitution.
203 STANDING ORDERS 1928 Standing Orders were in use since the First Legislative Council in 1928.

At the first Meeting on 28th November, 1928, of the First Legislative Council for British Guiana, Standing Rules and Orders were considered and approved.
1953 The British Guiana (Constitution) Order in Council, 1953, which was made on 1st April, 1953, by Her Majesty the Queen by and with the advice of Her Privy Council, established a new bicameral Legislature – a State Council and a House of Assembly for the Colony of British Guiana.
Article 61 of that Constitution stated as follows:- (1) Subject to the provisions of this Order and of and Instructions under Her Majesty’s Sign Manual and Signet, the State Council and the House of Assembly may from time to time, make, amend and revoke Standing Orders, including joint Standing Orders, for the regulation and orderly conduct of their proceedings and the despatch of business, and for the order and manner in which the Chambers shall confer, correspond and communicate with each other, and for the passing, intituling and numbering of Bills, and for the presentation of the same to the Governor for assent.
(2) Until other provision is made under this section, the Standing Rules and Orders of the Legislative Council, as in force immediately before the appointed day, shall, with the necessary modifications and adaptations, be the Standing Orders of the State Council and House of Assembly established under this Order; and the said Standing Orders may be amended or revoked by Standing Orders made under the preceding subsection.” 1954 Following the suspension in 1953 of the 1953 Constitution, and the dissolution of the Legislature (the State Council and the House of Assembly), 204 an Interim Wholly Nominated Legislative Council was established.
With the power vested in him, the Governor of the Colony, Sir Alfred William Lungley Savage, KCMG, made the Standing Orders for the new Legislative Council.

1961 The British Guiana (Constitution) Order in Council, 1961, which was made on 26th June, 1961, by Her Majesty the Queen by and with the advice of Her Privy Council, established a new Constitution for British Guiana.

Provision was made for a new bicameral Legislature – a Senate and a Legislative Assembly for the Colony of British Guiana.
Section 11 of the Order stated as follows:- “11.
The Governor shall make and cause to be laid before the Senate and the Legislative Assembly respectively when they first meet such Standing Orders with respect to the matters mentioned in article 62 of the Constitution as appear to him expedient to enable the Senate and the Legislative Assembly to commence the transaction of their business in an orderly manner, but any such Orders may be amended or revoked by the chamber to which they relate.” Section 62 of that Constitution stated as follows:- “62.
Subject to the provisions of this Constitution, each Chamber of the Legislature may make, amend and revoke Standing Orders for the regulation and orderly conduct of its own proceedings and the despatch of business, and the passing, intituling and numbering of Bills, and the presentation of the same to the Governor for assent.” On 4th September, 1961, the Governor, Sir Ralph Francis Alnwick Grey, KCMG, KCVO, OBE, made and caused to be laid before the Senate and the Legislative Assembly Standing Orders for the Senate and the Legislative Assembly.
205 1966 The Guyana Independence Order 1966, which was made by Her Majesty the Queen by and with the advice of Her Privy Council, established the Constitution of Guyana.

The Constitution provided for a Parliament of Guyana consisting of Her Majesty and a National Assembly.
Paragraph (1) of Article 74 of that Constitution stated as follows:- “74 (1) Subject to the provisions of this Constitution, the National Assembly may regulate its own procedure and may make rules for that purpose.” The Standing Orders of the National Assembly were revised in 1969 and were approved by the Assembly on 19th June, 1969.
1970 The alterations which were made to the 1966 (Independence) Constitution to provide for Guyana to become a Republic on 23rd February, 1970, did not change Article 74 of the Constitution and that Article remained and continued in the Constitution.

1975 On 11th July, 1975, the Standing Orders of the National Assembly were amended to allow the use of the title “Comrade” in the National Assembly before a Member’s surname or official designation.

1980 In 1980, the Parliament of Guyana, by Act No.


2 of 1980, enacted a new Constitution – The Constitution of the Co-operative Republic of Guyana.

The new Constitution came into operation on 6th October, 1980.
Section 9 of the Act stated as follows:- “9 The rules and orders of the existing Assembly as in force immediately before the appointed day shall, until it is otherwise provided for under article 206 165 and article173 of the Constitution, as the case may be, be the rules of procedure of the National Assembly and of the Supreme Congress of the People established under the Constitution, but shall be construed with such modifications, adaptations, qualifications and exceptions as may be necessary to bring them into conformity with the Constitution.” Paragraph (1) of Article 165 of the Constitution stated as follows:- “165 (1) Subject to the provisions of this Constitution, the National Assembly may regulate its own procedure and may make rules for that purpose.” 1986 On 16th July, 1986, the Standing Orders of the National Assembly were, by a Resolution of the Assembly, amended to provide for an annual recess for the National Assembly from 10th August to 10th October.
2006 In 2006, the Standing Orders of the National Assembly were revised.

ORDINANCES/ACTS Laws enacted by the Legislature of British Guiana prior to Independence were called Ordinances.

From the time of Independence – 26th May, 1966 – the laws enacted by the Parliament of Guyana have been called Acts.
From 1928 to 1966 Ordinances From 1966 (Independence) Acts 207 THE PARLIAMENTARY LIBRARY With the establishment in 1953 of a new and separate Department – called the Office of the Legislature – with its own Staff, the new Office became responsible for providing the services to the Legislature and for keeping and maintaining its own files and records.

Several records were brought over in 1953 from the Colonial Secretary’s Office to the new Office of the Legislature.
These included bound volumes of Official Gazettes, Resolutions, Messages, Sessional Papers, Ordinances, Subsidiary Legislation, Parliamentary Debates, Debates of the British House of Commons and the House of Lords, United States Congressional Records, Oaths, etc.

Further, additional records were kept and maintained by the new Office of the Legislature.
The records of the Legislature have been increasing and have kept increasing and reached a stage a long time ago when there was no longer any further shelf space available.

Records and other documents and files had to be placed and left on tables, on chairs and even on the floor.

No additional space was forthcoming.

The Staff too kept increasing reaching a time when it became impossible to recruit new staff and even to fill vacancies.
The Staff and the Records of the Legislature outgrew their accommodation.

Immediately following the 1992 elections, which the People’s Progressive Party won after twenty-eight years, the Producer of the information in this File, Frank A. Narain, as Clerk of the National Assembly, brought to the attention of the new President, Cheddi Jagan, the need for more accommodation and requested that the entire Public Buildings be made available to the Parliament Office.
The President acceded to the request and in a letter dated 16th December, 1992, informed Frank Narain, that it was agreed to make the Public 208 Buildings available for Parliamentary matters only and placed it under the administration of Frank A. Narain, Clerk of the National Assembly.
Establishment of Parliamentary Library A re-organisation of the space in the Building was carried out and the ground floor of the western wing, which previously accommodated certain sections and Staff of the Prime Minister’s Office, and the Offices of the Chairman, Vice-Chairman and some Staff of the National Congress of Local Democratic Organs, was identified as the place to accommodate a Library for Parliament.
Subsequent to the 1992 general elections, the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) returned to assist Guyana.

Parliament was one of the areas considered for strengthening.

USAID held several meetings on the question of helping the Parliament of Guyana.

The Producer of this File was involved at almost all of these meetings, and kept mentioning the establishment of a Parliamentary Library as a priority area which required assistance.
After several meetings over a period of several months, with several Officials, including the American Ambassador in Guyana, the USAID Officials in Guyana and from the USA, and Officials from the National Democratic Institute for International Affairs (NDI), the establishment of a Library for Parliament was accepted for the grant of assistance.

The National Democratic Institute, a non-governmental organisation based in the USA, was tasked with the responsibility for the project.
Meetings continued with the NDI Officials who came from the USA.

The first NDI Official to arrive in Guyana was Cara Hesse.

She was followed and assisted by Deborah Ullmer.

After Cara Hesse returned to the USA, Deborah Ullmer was left in charge.

It was Deborah Ullmer who established the NDI Office in Guyana – finding accommodation, staff, furnishings and equipment.
209 Having identified the place for the Parliamentary Library and following a prepared plan for the Library, work had to be done towards the installing of a ceiling, the replastering of the walls, the security of the doors and windows, the acquisition and installation of air conditioning units, the installation of a new electrical and lighting system, the acquisition of bookshelves, the acquisition of furniture (desks, research reading tables and chairs), computer equipment, including printer and scanner, photocopying and fax machines, telephones, stationery, etc.
NDI assisted in advising and in providing these.

Several text books were also obtained and provided by NDI.

The Staffing establishment for the Library was considered and agreed upon.

The NDI provided on a contractual basis, to assist in the establishment of the new Library and the cataloguing of its books and records, the services of Doreen Evelyn Holder, a highly qualified, trained and experienced officer, who held the Office of Deputy Librarian at the University of Guyana.
Doreen Holder was, during the period of her contract at the Parliamentary Library, also involved in the training of the Parliamentary Library Staff.

Unfortunately, a suitably qualified person was not appointed to head the Library after Doreen Holder’s contractual appointment ended, and the office remained vacant.
With Deborah Ullmer’s great assistance, and with finance from the USAID, the ground floor of the western wing of the Public Buildings was, after several meetings over several months, transformed into a Library.

Valuable advice and continuous assistance were given by Deborah Ullmer who was assisted by Staff at the NDI who included Winston Kramer, Paul Adams and Shelida Walcott.
At the Parliament Office, the Clerk of the National Assembly had the fullest backing, support and co-operation at all levels and on every occasion of Sherlock Ewart Isaacs, the Deputy Clerk of the National Assembly and Accounting Officer for the Parliament Office.

210 The Parliamentary Library also has a special VIP Lounge for M.P.s, washing up facilities, and facilities for binding and repairing books.

The computers have special library programmes and are connected to internet with E-mail facilities.
With the further assistance of NDI, a Parliamentary Website - www.parliament.com – and a Parliamentary Guide were launched early in 2004.

Arrangements were being made and a Programme was proposed for the formal Opening of the Parliamentary Library, but the Library has still not yet been officially opened.

However, its services are available to and are used by Members of Parliament as well as the members of the public.
211 PART XII REMUNERATION Remuneration of Legislators Superannuation Benefits for Legislative Service 212 REMUNERATION OF LEGISLATORS In respect of their services as legislators in the early legislative bodies, Members of those bodies were not paid for such services.
It was not until 1948, during the life of the Fourth Legislative Council, which was 20 years after the establishment by the British of the First Legislative Council for British Guiana that legal provision was first made to remunerate legislators for their services.

Ordinance No.

25 of 1948 made provision for the payment of remuneration, travelling expenses and subsistence allowances to the Unofficial Members of the Executive and Legislative Councils.

The salary of a legislator was then $3,000 per annum.
As no Offices of Speaker and Minister existed at that time, no provision was made for payments to such office holders.

In 1953, when a new Constitution was promulgated for British Guiana, the Office of Speaker was established and a Ministerial system of Government came into operation.
The Constitution itself provided for the payment of the salaries to the holders of those Offices and even gave the rates, as follows:- Speaker $5,760 per annum A Minister with Portfolio $7,200 per annum A Minister without Portfolio $4,800 per annum In 1962, a new law entitled “The Ministers, Members of the National Assembly and Special Offices (Emoluments) Ordinance, 1962 (No.1) was enacted to provide for the payment of revised salaries to Members.
A further revised 213 law was enacted in 1965 as Ordinance No.

7 of 1965.

This Ordinance became and is now Chapter 1:07 of the 1973 Revised Edition of the Laws of Guyana.

The rates of the salaries and allowances payable are set out in a Schedule to the Act.
While the Parliament can amend its Act as well as the Schedule thereto, it has, nevertheless, delegated in the Act the power to the Minister of Finance to amend, alter or vary the Schedule or substitute a new Schedule in the place thereof, by an Order.

Any Order made by the Minister on this matter must be laid before the National Assembly within 14 days after it is made.
It has become the practice for the Minister of Finance to amend the Schedule to the Act to increase the salaries of legislators on every occasion that there is a general increase in the salaries of Public Officers, with effect from the same time and by the same percentage increase granted to such Officers.

The salaries and allowances of Members are charged on the Consolidated Fund and must be paid to the Members.
SUPERANNUATION BENEFITS FOR LEGISLATIVE SERVICE Prior to 1969, there was no provision for the payment of superannuation benefits to persons who gave service as legislators.

Legislation to provide for such payments was first enacted by the Parliament of Guyana in 1969 by the Pensions (President, Parliamentary and Special Offices) Act 1969.

This Act now appears as Chapter 27:03 in the Revised Edition of the Laws of Guyana.
Under the Act, only persons who were Members of the National Assembly on 26th May, 1966 (Independence Day), or who became Members of the 214 Assembly after that date, qualify for benefits, and any previous legislative service of such persons, going back to 18th May, 1953, would count for benefits.

Members of the National Assembly are required to make contributions to the pension scheme at the rate of 6% of their salaries.
Contributions are deducted monthly from Members’ salaries and paid to the Accountant General by the Parliament Office.

A person who has served as a legislator for less than 3 years is not eligible for a pension but is eligible for a gratuity equal to 1/10 of the total salary paid to him as a legislator.
A person who has ceased to be a legislator, and has attained the age of 40 years and has – (i) served for not less than 3 years, will be eligible for an annual pension at the rate of of a year’s highest salary multiplied by the fraction of 4 years that the aggregate of his service amounts to.

(ii) served for not less than 4 years, will be eligible for an annual pension at the rate of 1/4 of a year’s highest salary.
(iii) served for not less than 6 years, will be eligible for an annual pension at the rate of 1/3 of a year’s highest salary.

(iv) served for not less than 8 years, will be eligible for an annual pension at the rate of 1/4 of a year’s highest salary.

(v) served for not less than 10 years, will be eligible for an annual pension at the rate of 2/3 of a year’s highest salary.

(vi) served for not less than 12 years, will be eligible for an annual pension at the rate of 7/8 of a year’s highest salary.
215 Instead of taking a full pension at the above rate, a person may opt to receive a reduced pension at the rate of 3/4 of the full pension, together with a gratuity equal to 12 1/2 times the reduction made in the pension.
A Member of the National Assembly who has completed 12 years service may, at his option, even though he has not ceased to be a legislator, receive the gratuity which would have been paid to him had he ceased to be a legislator at that time, and if he is otherwise qualified to receive such gratuity.

The amount paid will be deducted from benefits payable when he ceases to be a legislator.
Provision is also made in the Act for the payment of benefits to widows, widowers and children of deceased Parliamentarians.

Allowances in respect of children of deceased Parliamentarians are payable only while such children are under the age of 21 years and, in the case of female children, only if they are also not married while under that age.
Although payments of superannuation benefits are made by the Accountant General’s Department, nevertheless, it is the Parliament Office that initiates action on this matter and compiles, certifies and supplies the information required.

Although persons vacate their seats in the National Assembly when Parliament is dissolved, nevertheless, they are not at that time yet considered as having ceased to be legislators for the purpose of superannuation benefits.
Under the law, no computation of benefits must be made before 30 days after a general election.

Those who have been once intoxicated with power, and have derived any kind of emolument from it, even though for but one year, can never willingly abandon it.
(Edmund Burke, Irish born Whig Politician, 1791) 216 PART XIII AFFILIATED ORGANISATIONS The Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA) The Caribbean Regional Grouping of the CPA The Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) The Amazonian Parliament The Society of Clerks-at-the-Table in Commonwealth Parliaments The Association of Secretaries-General 217 THE COMMONWEALTH PARLIAMENTARY ASSOCIATION The Patron of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA) is Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, Head of the Commonwealth.
The Commonwealth Parliamentary Association was founded in 1911.

It is an association of Commonwealth Parliamentarians who, irrespective of race, religion or culture, are united by community of interest, respect for the rule of law and human rights and freedoms, and the pursuit of the positive ideals of parliamentary democracy.

The Association is composed of Branches formed by Members of Legislatures in Commonwealth countries.

The governing body is the General Assembly which meets annually.
The management of affairs is conducted by an Executive Committee.

Plenary and Regional Conferences and Seminars are held.

Publications include “The Parliamentarian” and two Newsletters.

The Headquarters Secretariat is in London.

On 11th January, 1939, British Guiana, as a Colony, formed with the Members of the Legislative Council, a Branch of the Association (then called the Empire Parliamentary Association), affiliated to the United Kingdom Branch of the Association.
With the attainment of Independence in 1966, the Guyana Branch became a Main Branch of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association.

Branches are required to make annual financial contributions to the Association.

218 THE CARIBBEAN REGIONAL GROUPING OF THE CPA The Caribbean, the Americas and the Atlantic Region of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association is the grouping formed by the Branches of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association in the Region.
The Branches are from the following countries:- Anguilla Antigua & Barbuda Bahamas Barbados Belize Bermuda Grenada Guyana Jamaica Montserrat St. Christopher and Nevis St. Helena British Virgin Islands Saint Lucia Cayman Islands St. Vincent and the Grenadines Dominica Trinidad & Tobago Falkland Islands Turks & Caicos Islands Conferences of the Branches in the Region are intended to be held annually in one of the countries in the Region.
Conferences of the Presiding Officers and Clerks of the Legislative Bodies in the Regional Grouping are held as far as possible every 2 years.

THE INTER-PARLIAMENTARY UNION The Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) is the international organisation of Parliaments of sovereign states.

It was established in 1889.

The Union is the focal point for world-wide parliamentary dialogue and works for peace and co-operation among peoples and for the firm establishment of representative democracy.
219 Over 130 National Parliaments are Members of the IPU.

The IPU is financed by the Member Parliaments.

The site of the Union’s Headquarters is Geneva, Switzerland.

Guyana became a Member of the Inter-Parliamentary Union in 1981.

THE AMAZONIAN PARLIAMENT The Amazonian Parliament was established several years ago.

It consists of representatives from countries in the Amazonian Region of South America.

Guyana has attended and participated in some of the Meetings.
THE SOCIETY OF CLERKS-AT-THE-TABLE IN COMMONWEALTH PARLIAMENTS The Society of Clerks-at-the-Table in Commonwealth Parliaments is, as its name implies, a Society of Clerks and other Officials of the Legislatures of the Commonwealth.

The Head Office of the Society is at the Palace of Westminster, London.

The Society publishes annually a Journal containing articles on procedure, privilege and constitutional law in its relation to Parliament.

Members pay annual contributions to the Society.


Guyana has been a Member of the Society for several years.

220 THE ASSOCIATION OF SECRETARIES-GENERAL The Association of Secretaries-General of Parliaments (ASGP) is an Association of the Clerks/ Secretaries-General of Parliaments.

It is affiliated to the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) and also has its Headquarters Secretariat in Geneva, Switzerland.

Guyana joined the Association when it became a Member of the Inter- Parliamentary Union in 1981.
221 PART XIV FINAL MATTERS Visitors to Parliament Some Parliamentary Firsts and Long Service Records They Too Made Parliamentary History Some Parliamentary Family Connections Some Incidents Some Notable Changes at a Glance Other Documents by the Producer Index About the Producer 222 VISITORS TO PARLIAMENT All classes of persons from the high monarch to the lowly poor primary school child have been visiting our Parliament.
Persons have come from all parts of the world individually, in groups and also from several organisations.

Some have addressed the Legislative body, some have attended meetings as visitors, and some have come on tours.

Following the establishment in 1953 of the Parliament Office as a separate Department to serve the Legislature, the Office introduced and has since kept a Visitors Book.
The following are a small number of some of the very important persons who made visits to the Parliament and who signed the Visitors Book:- 1958 Princess Margaret 28th November, 1960 Lord Hailes, Governor-General of the West Indies Federation 7th February, 1962 The Duke of Edinburgh, Prince Philip 15th March, 1963 Dr. Eric Williams, Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago 11th April, 1963 Errol W. Barrow, Premier of Barbados 11th April, 1963 H. A. Blaize, Chief Minister of Grenada 1963 Duncan Sandys, Secretary of State (UK) 223 February, 1966 Queen Elizabeth II 26th May, 1966 The Duke of Kent 6th October, 1966 H.L.
de Vries, Governor of Surinam 25th November, 1966 B. Kaunda, Zambia 29th August, 1967 Milton Cato, St. Vincent 13th October, 1968 Indira Gandhi, Prime Minister of India 17th February, 1969 Roland Michener, Governor-General of Canada 26th June, 1970 Sedney Jovy, Surinam 21st April, 1971 Singh Dhillon, Speaker of the Lok Sabha (Parliament of India) February, 1974 Palitha Weerasinghe, Assistant Secretary- General, Commonwealth Parliamentary Association 19th July, 1974 E.L.A.
Wynton, Speaker of Surinam 13th September, 1974 Julius K. Nyere, President of Tanzania 11th November, 1974 ….
Tolbert, President of Liberia 8th March, 1978 George Price, Premier of Belize October, 1978 Carlos Andres Perez, President of Venezuela 224 17th November, 1987 Jaime Lusinchi, President of Venezuela 4th March, 1989 Jose Sarney, President of Venezuela 20th March, 1989 The President of Suriname 21st February, 1994 Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh 26th May, 1995 Runaldo Ronald Venetian, President of Suriname 27th October, 1995 The President of Namibia 1st February, 1996 Arthur Donahoe, Secretary General, Commonwealth Parliamentary Association 9th March, 1997 Basdeo Panday, Prime Minister of Trinidad & Tobago 4th May, 2001 Owen Arthur, Prime Minister of Barbados 225 SOME PARLIAMENTARY FIRSTS AND LONG SERVICE RECORDS Here are some Parliamentary Firsts and Long Service Records:- The First (Indigenous) People of British Guiana: The Amerindians.
The First Governor of British Guiana: Major-General Sir Benjamin D’Urban, KCB, KCH (1831) First Governor-General: Sir Richard Edmonds Luyt, KCMG, DCM (1966) First President (Titular): Arthur Chung, OE (1970 to 1980) First President (Executive): Linden Forbes Sampson Burnham, OE, SC (PNC) (1980 to 1985) First Premier: Cheddi Jagan (PPP) (1961 to 1964) First Prime Minister: Linden Forbes Sampson Burnham, OE, SC (PNC) (1965 to 1980) Longest Serving Prime Minister: Linden Forbes Sampson Burnham, OE, SC (PNC) (1965 to 1980) First Speaker: Sir Eustace Gordon Woolford, OBE, QC (1953 to 1957) First Elected Speaker: Rahman Baccus Gajraj, CBE, JP Longest Serving Speaker: Sase Narain, CMG, OR, SC, JP (1971 to 1992) 226 First Ministers of the Government: (PPP) (1953): Cheddi Jagan Linden Forbes Sampson Burnham Ashton Chase Sydney Evanson King Joseph Prayag Lachhmansingh Jai Narine Singh First Leader of the Opposition: Cheddi Jagan (PPP) (1966 to 1973) First Deputy Speaker: Janet Jagan (PPP) (1953) Longest Serving Parliamentarian: Cheddi Jagan (1947 to 1992) First Women Legislators: (PPP) (1953): Janet Jagan Jessie Irma Sampson Burnham Jane Phillips-Gay First Amerindian Legislator: Stephen Campbell (NLF) (1957) First Legislator of African Descent: Alex Benjamin Brown (1891) Longest Serving Political Party in Government: Peoples National Congress (PNC) (1964 to 1992) Longest Serving Clerk of the National Assembly: Frank Alston Narain, AA, CCH (1966 to 2002) Longest Serving Parliamentary Official: Frank Alston Narain, AA, CCH
 (1951 to 2002) 227 THEY TOO MADE PARLIAMENTARY HISTORY A legislator gives very special and important service to the Country and to its people – contributing to the making not only of laws but also of Parliamentary History.
All legislators – past and present – must therefore be included in a Parliamentary History.

The following are some questions about a very small number of legislators whom I have selected as having made history.

Do you know who they are?

While this selection has been made by me, it is not my intention to discriminate.

I repeat: All legislators make history.

Here are the Questions: 1. Who was the first President of Guyana?

2. Who was the first President with executive powers?
3. Who was the first Speaker?

4. Who was the longest serving Speaker?

5. Who was the first Deputy Speaker?

6. Who was the only woman President?

7. Who were the Presidents who died while holding Office?

8. Who were the Speakers who died while holding Office?

228 9. Who was the first legislator of African descent?

10. Who was the first legislator of East Indian descent?

11. Who was the first legislator of Amerindian descent?

12. Who was the first legislator of Chinese descent?
13. Who were the first Ministers?

14. Who were the first women legislators?

15. Who was the first Premier?

16. Who was the first Prime Minister?

17. Who was the first Leader of the Opposition?

18. Who was the Governor-General who was killed while holding Office?

19. Who were resigned without their knowledge?

20.

Name some persons who crossed the floor.

21. Who was the longest serving legislator?

22. Who was the Leader of the Opposition who died while holding Office?
23. Who was the longest serving Parliamentary Official?

24. Who was the longest serving Parliament Clerk?

229 DO YOU KNOW WHO THESE PERSONS ARE?

GIVE QUESTIONS ABOUT OTHERS Being an MP is the sort of job all working-class parents want for their children – clean, indoors and no heavy lifting.
(Diane Abbott, British Labour Politician, 1994) SOME PARLIAMENTARY FAMILY CONNECTIONS There have been a number of Parliamentary family connections – persons from the same families being legislators, in some cases in the same and in others in different legislative bodies, and in some cases from the same and in other cases from different Political Parties.
There have been husbands and wives, brother and sister, fathers and sons, father and daughter, parents and son, fathers and sons-in-law, brothers, uncle and nephew, and cousins.

The following are some of the family connections which have come to mind to the Producer of the information in this File:- 1.

2.

3.

4.

5.
2.

3.

4.

5.

The wife of a former President became a President The wife of a former President became a Vice-President The son of two former Presidents became a legislator The son-in-law of a President became a Minister The son of a former Financial Secretary, an Ex-Officio Member, became a legislator 230 6.

The son-in-law of a former Speaker became a Speaker 7.

8.

9.
8.

9.

The son of a former Minister became a Speaker The son of a former Minister became a Minister The son of a former legislator became a Minister 10.

The son of an Official legislator became the Attorney General and Minister 11.

The brother of an Attorney-General (PPP) became a PNC legislator 12.

A brother and a sister were legislators in the same legislative body 13.

A husband and wife were legislators in the same legislative body 14.

Two Ministers became husband and wife 15.


A father and a daughter were legislators 16.

Two brothers were legislators in the same legislative body 17.

A husband and wife were legislators in the same legislative body 18.

The nephew of a former Speaker became a Minister 19.

The son of a Parliamentary Secretary became the Attorney General and Minister 20.

Two brothers were legislators, one was the Financial Secretary, an Ex Officio Member and the other was a legislator 231 21.
A father and a son were PPP legislators; the son later became a PNC Parliamentary Secretary.

22.

The son-in-law of a PPP legislator became a PNC Minister.

23.

Two cousins were legislators- one PPP, one PNC.

DO YOU KNOW WHO THESE PERSONS ARE ?

DO YOU KNOW OF ANY OTHER FAMILY CONNECTIONS ?
INCIDENTS On the lighter side of our Parliamentary history, there have been a number of incidents, some amusing, some serious, such as - Boycotting Parliament Walking out Sprinkling flour Pushing down table Giving a loaf of bread to the Speaker Making up (powdering) face Removing Mace from rests below Table and placing it on the Table 232 Refusing to apologise to the Speaker Opposition Member sitting in the Prime Minister’s chair Banging on tables with paper weights MPs being resigned without their knowledge Crossing the floor Suspension of MPs Prevented by the Speaker from speaking until apology is made Clerks refusing to carry out the requests of the Speaker Hiding the Mace Indecent act Crowing like a fowl cock Was there a case of pelting a drinking glass at the Speaker?
And was there a case of an apparent indecent act?

Was there a case of slapping a Reporter?

DO YOU KNOW OF OTHER INCIDENTS ?

233 SOME CHANGES AT A GLANCE The following are some of the matters in which there have been changes, and the changes which took place in them, which came to the mind of the Producer of the Information in the File:- Name of Country The Country was called British Guiana from 1831.
From 26th May, 1966, when British Guiana attained Independence, the name of Country was changed to Guyana.

Status British Guiana became a British Crown Colony in 1928.

Was granted full internal self-government in 1961.

Attained Independence on 26th May, 1966, and obtained full Commonwealth status.

Became a Republic on 23rd February, 1970, and continued to be a Member of the Commonwealth.

President with executive powers from 6th October,1980.
Head of Country A Governor appointed by the British Monarch was the Head of the Colony from 1928 to 1966.

When Independence was attained on 26th May, 1966, the Head became a Governor-General also appointed by the British Monarch.

When Guyana became a Republic on 23rd February, 1970, the Head became a President (Titular) to be elected by the National Assembly.
With a change in the Constitution in 1980, the Head became a President (with executive powers) elected at the time of the General Elections by the electoral voters.

The Flag Prior to 1966, the British Flag, commonly referred to as the Union Jack, was the flag used in British Guiana.

234 From the time of Independence on 26th May, 1966, Guyana’s own flag, known as “The Golden Arrow Head” was put into use.
The Coat of Arms Although there was a Coat of Arms in use in British Guiana, through an omission, it was not officially registered, confirmed and assigned to the Colony until after 1951.

A new Coat of Arms was accepted by the House of Assembly on 26th February, 1966, and was used from the time of Guyana’s attainment of Independence on 26th May, 1966.
National Anthem Prior to 1966, the British National Anthem – God save our gracious King/ Queen – was used in British Guiana whenever a National Anthem was required.

A new National Anthem for Guyana was used from the time of Guyana’s attainment of Independence on 26th May, 1966.

National Awards Up to 1970, British Honours were offered to and were allowed to be accepted by Guyanese.

Guyana proclaimed its own National Honours from the time it became a Republic on 23rd February, 1970.
The Executive The Executive body of the Colony of British Guiana was called the Executive Council.

In 1953 the name Executive Council continued.

In 1961, the Executive body was called the Council of Ministers.

From and since 1966 (Independence), the Executive body has been called the Cabinet.

235 Name of Legislative Body The name of the Legislative body of British Guiana from 1928 to 1953 was Legislative Council.

In 1953, with a new Constitution, the name was changed to House of Assembly.
There was also a second Chamber called the State Council.

After the suspension of the Constitution that same year, the Interim Legislative body was again called the Legislative Council until 1961.

From 1961 to 1964, it was called the Legislative Assembly.

There was also during that time a second Chamber called the Senate.

From 1964 to 1966, the name became the House of Assembly.

From and since Guyana’s attainment of Independence on 26th May, 1966, the Legislative body became the National Assembly.
Constituencies In 1928, British Guiana had 8 constituencies.

From 1930 to 1953, there were 14 constituencies.

In 1953, there were 24 constituencies.

In 1957, following the suspension of the 1953 Constitution, the number of constituencies was reduced to 14.

For the 1961 general elections, there were 35 constituencies.

The constituency system was not used for the next elections in 1964 and since that time.
Number of Elected Members The number of elected Members in the legislative body started at 14 in 1928 and remained at that number until 1953.

In 1953 the number was increased to 24.

After the 1953 Constitution was suspended that same year, there were no elected Members in the Interim Legislative Council from 1954 to 1957.

For the next Legislative Council from 1957 to 1961, there were 14 elected Members.

From 1961 to 1964 there were 35 elected Members.


For the House of Assembly following the general elections in December, 236 1964, the number of elected Members was increased to 53.

For the National Assembly following the general elections on 15th December, 1980, the number of elected Members was increased to 65.

The number of elected Members has remained at 65 since that time.

Presiding Official From 1928 to 1953, the Governor of the Colony presided over the Meetings of the Legislative Council.
With a new system under a new Constitution in 1953, a Speaker was appointed by the Governor to preside in the Legislative body from that time.

A Speaker is now elected and has been elected since 1961 to preside.

Ministerial System Prior to 1953 there was no Ministerial system in Guyana.

A Ministerial system of Government was first introduced in Guyana in 1953 by the 1953 Constitution, and Ministers were first elected from that time.
Legislative Council Advisory Committees Legislative Council Advisory Committees were first established in 1943.

They went out of existence in 1953 on the introduction of a new Constitution providing for a Ministerial system of Government.

Public Accounts Committee A Public Accounts Committee was first established in Guyana in 1957.

There was no provision prior to that time for the examination by the Legislature of the Public Accounts.
Ex officio Members In 1928, there were two Ex officio Members in the First Legislative Council – the Colonial Secretary (redesignated Chief Secretary from 1953) and the Attorney General.

In 1947, a third Ex officio Member – the Colonial Treasurer (redesignated Financial Secretary and Treasurer from 1953 and Financial Secretary 237 subsequently) was added to the Legislature.

Since 1961, there have been no Ex officio Members in the Legislative bodies.
Enactment of Laws Laws enacted from 1928 would have been by the British Monarch and the Legislative body, the Governor of the Colony assenting thereto in the Monarch’s name and on his behalf.

Laws had to be submitted for the non-disallowance of the Monarch.

From 1966 (Independence) Bills passed by the Legislative body had to be assented to by the Governor General on behalf of Her Majesty.
From and since 23rd February, 1970, when Guyana became a Republic, Bills passed by the National Assembly are to be assented to by the President.

The British Monarch is no longer involved.

Chief Minister With the establishment in 1953 of a Ministerial system of Government, and the election by the House of Assembly of the six Ministers, the Ministers elected one of their number to be their Leader and he was styled “Leader of the House”.

The 1953 Constitution was suspended that same year.
It was not until in1961 by the 1961 Constitution that the designation Premier was first used for the chief Minister.

The designation was changed to and has remained as Prime Minister since 1965.

Opposition Leader Prior to Independence, there was no Office of Leader of the Opposition.

The 1966 (Independence) Constitution established the Office of Leader of the Opposition in Guyana for the first time.

An appointment to the Office was to be made by the Governor-General.
By the 1980 Constitution, the designation was changed to Minority Leader, and an appointment was to be made by the President.

Following an amendment to the Constitution in 2001, the designation of the 238 Office was changed back to Leader of the Opposition.

The Leader of the Opposition is now to be elected by and from among the non governmental Members of the National Assembly at a meeting held under the chairmanship of the Speaker of the National Assembly.
Forms of Address In accordance with the Standing Orders, Members are addressed as the “Honourable Member Mr./Ms ……………….” On 11th July, 1975, the Standing Orders were amended to allow the use of the title “Comrade” before a Member’s surname or official designation.

Designation M.P.

From the time of Independence in 1966, Members of the National Assembly have been designated Members of Parliament and have been allowed to use the initials “M.P.” after their names.
Mace No Mace was used in the British Guiana Legislature from 1928 to 1953 while the Governor presided and again from 1954 to 1957, during the Wholly Nominated Interim Legislative Council even though a Speaker presided.

The Mace was first put into use in the new elected Legislative Council at its first Meeting on 10th November, 1957.

When Guyana became a Republic on 23rd February, 1970, the Head of he Mace had to be changed to discard the Royal symbols.
Recess There was no fixed period for a recess for the Legislature from 1928 to 1986.

On 16th July, 1986, the National Assembly amended its Standing Orders to provide for an annual recess from 10th August to 10th October.

Forms of Attire For attendance at Meetings of the Legislative bodies, male Members have been wearing a suit (with jacket and tie) up to 1969.

239 In April, 1969, the use of a shirt jac was allowed as an alternative form of dress.
The wigs and gowns used by the Speaker and the Clerks have no longer been and are no longer worn since that time.

Prayers A Christian Prayer was read in the Legislative body.

The Prayer was subsequently amended to omit therefrom the preference shown to Christianity.

Parliamentary Library Prior to 1992 there was no Parliamentary Library.

Following the 1992 general elections, steps were taken to establish a Library for Parliament.
The work on the Library was completed a few years ago but the Library has not yet been officially opened.

Designation of Clerk Up to 1953, the designation of the Chief Legislative Official was Clerk of the Legislative Council.

In 1953, when a bicameral legislature was established, the designation was changed to Clerk of the Legislature.

When Independence was attained in 1966, the designation was changed to and has since continued to be Clerk of the National Assembly.

No.
No.

Two Clerk Prior to 1953, only one Official sat at the Meetings of the Legislative body.

From 1953, when a bicameral legislature was established, provision was made for an assistant to the Clerk.

The designation was Assistant Clerk of the Legislature.

When Independence was attained in 1966, the designation was changed to and has since continued to be Deputy Clerk of the National Assembly.

240 Sergeant-at-Arms Prior to 1953, there was a legislative officer designated Custodian.
In 1953, the designation was changed to Marshal.

When Independence was attained in 1966, the designation was changed to and has since continued to be Sergeant-at-Arms.

Whips Prior to 1967, there were no Parliamentary Whips.

The Office of Whip first came into being and use in Guyana in 1967.

Parliament Office Prior to 1953, the services to the Legislature were provided by the Colonial Secretary’s Office.
In 1953, with the introduction of a new Constitution providing for the first time for a Ministerial system of Government and a bicameral Legislature, a separate Office was established to serve the Legislature.

This Office was called the Office of the Legislature.

When Guyana became Independent (on 26th May, 1966), the name of the Office was changed to and has since that time remained as the Parliament Office.
Increase in Staff When the Parliament Office was first established in 1953, there was an established Staff of 12 persons.

Today – fifty-four years later – the Staff has increased to 56.

Name of Chamber The name of the hall in which the Meetings of the first law-making body – the Court of Policy – were held was called the Court of Policy Hall.

This hall occupied the east wing of the upper floor of the Public Buildings and was used from the time the Public Buildings was first put into use in April, 1834.
When a Legislative Council came into being from 1928, the name of the Hall 241 became the Legislative Council Chamber, and was more popularly known as the Council Chamber.

When Guyana became Independent on 26th May, 1966, the name became and has since continued to be the Parliament Chamber.
OTHER DOCUMENTS BY THE PRODUCER The following are some other Documents which the compiler of the information in this File has also produced:- Information (No.1) Privileges, Entitlements, etc., for Members of the National Assembly – January 1969 (76 pages) Information for Ministers of the Government – August 1972 (10 pages) Notes for Members of the National Assembly – January 1981 (24 pages) Information on Parliamentarians from 4th January, 1971 to 27th January, 1985 (73 pages) Presented to Mr. Sase Narain, Speaker of the National Assembly, on the occasion of his 60th birthday Information Booklet on Staff – Presented to Mr. Maurice B. Henry, Deputy Clerk of the National Assembly, on the occasion of his 50th Birthday Prepared in October 1992, the Index to the Standing Orders of the National Assembly A Handbook for Members of the National Assembly – October 1992 (78 pages) Parliamentary Notes and Information for the Members of the National Assembly and Government Officials – June 2001 (118 pages) 242 Some Historical Facts, Notes and Dates on the Parliament of Guyana – February 2004 (25 pages) Booklets with information on the history and work of the Public Accounts Committee Several handouts on the Public Buildings, Parliament and Parliamentary Procedures, for Ministers and other Members of Parliament, Staff of the Parliament Office, Members of the Youth Parliament, Students of the University of Guyana, Students of several Secondary Schools including President’s College and Bishops High School, Members of the Diplomatic Spouses Association, Members of the Press, and several other groups and individuals.
243 REFERENCES/SUGGESTIONS FOR FURTHER ORDER, PAPERS, BILLS, STANDING ORDERS, NOTICE PAPERS, ACTS (ORDINANCES), MINUTES, REPORTS AND THE WIDE ARRAY OF OTHER PARLIAMENT/ASSEMBLY – RELATED OFFICIAL DOCUMENTS available in Parliament Office.

Constitutional Instruments, as listed on page 155.

USAID, NDI/GOVERNMENT OF GUYANA Agreements and Research – 1993 onwards.

The Ministers, Members of the National Assembly and Special Offices (Emoluments) Ordinance, 1962 (No.
1); the 1973 Revised Edition of the Laws of Guyana – (Chapter 1:07); the Pensions (President, Parliamentary and Special Offices) Act 1969, now Chap.

27:03 Revised Edition of the Laws of Guyana.

Commonwealth Parliament Association Records (CPA), IPU, Amazonian Parliament Records – 1939 onwards.

GECOM’S REGULATIONS GOVERNING ELECTIONS – 1961 onwards Daily, Weekly Newspapers.

Author’s personal Notes and Diaries.
244 INDEX Aaron, Joseph N., 53, 56 Abbreviations, 19 About the Producer, At end after Index Abraham, Diane, 60 Abraham, Michael A., 61, 64 Abrahams, Enid B., 64 Ackman, Margaret M., 53, 56 Acts/Ordinances, 153, 159 Adams, Paul, 161 Adams, Sandra M., 71, 74 Addressing the Speaker and Members, 127 Advisory Committees, 137 Ahamad, Aftabuddin, 68 Ainsworth, Donald A.N., 60, 63 Alexander, Arthur A., 66, 68 Alexander, Vincent L., 74 Ali, Mohamed Irfaan, 76 Allen, Genevieve P.R., 74 Allen, Ivor, 71, 74 Alleyne, Aubrey Percival, 48, 50, 51, 105 Ali, Fazil M., 67, 70 Alli, Husman, 67, 70, 73 Allocation of Seats, 89 Ally, Amna, 63, 68, 74, 77 Ally, Asgar, 67 Ally, I., 64 Ally, M., 60, 63 Ally, Mohamed Yacoob, 49, 53 Ally, Nasir, 74 Ally, Roshan, 53, 57 Amazonian Parliament, 172 Ambrose, Edgar L., 53, 56 Amerindians, Arrival of, 24 Andries, Kelly, 71 Anthony, Dr. Frank C.S., 76 Armogan, Milton, 60 Arthur, Lennox, 63 Arthur, Owen, 178 Association of Secretaries-General, 173 Assistant Clerks, 145, Atkinson, Albert, 76 Attire, 54, 122, 189 Austin, Dr. John, 77 Bacchus, Khadim, 67 Backer, Deborah J., 71, 74, 77 Baird, C. Leone, 55 Baksh, Samad A., 67 Baksh, Shaik K.Z., 67, 70, 73, 76 Baldeo, Harrinarine, 67 Bancroft, Kenneth B., 53, 56 Bancroft, Rajcoomarie, 74 Barrow, Dunstan, 68, 71 Basir, Isahak, 61, 64 Belgrave, Cyril C., 57, 61, 64, 67, 70, 73 Bend-Kirton-Holder, Agnes W., 60, 63 Beniprashad-Rayman, Bissoondai, 60, 63 Benn, Brindley H., 43, 45, 49, 67 Benn, Brindley H.R., 76 Bernard, Deryck M.A., 63, 68, 74 Bhaggan,
 Basdeo, 60 Bhagwan, Moses, 49 Bicameral/Unicameral Legislatures, 118 Bill, 153 Bipat, Walter, 60 Bishop, Rudy, 60, 64 Bisnauth, Rev.
Dr. R. Dale A., 67, 70, 73 Bissember, Neville J., 48, 53 Blair, William A., 49 Bovell-Drakes, James, 63 Bowman, George, 49 Branco, Lilian M., 53, 56 Brouet, Gwenneth A., 68 Brown, Alex Benjamin, 31 Budget Speeches, 154 Budhoo, Jagnarine, 49, 53 Burnham, Jessie Irma Sampson, 114 245 Burnham, Linden Forbes Sampson, 31, 48, 50, 52, 55, 58, 61, 109, 111 Burnham, Viola V., 62 Bynoe, Colin, 71 Bynoe, Edith M., 60 Bynoe, Phillip, 68 Cadogan, Charles Benjamin, 148 Caldeira, John B., 49, 60 Calistro, Neville, 63 Campbell, Frank A., 59 Campbell, Stephen, 49, 179 Canada, Governor-General of, 54 Carberry, E. Lance, 71, 74, 77 Carmichael, Fitz U.A., 56, 59 Carrington, Winslow G., 53, 55 Carter, Martin W., 52 Chan, M. Shree, 67, 70 Chan-A-Sue, Charles F., 49 Chan-A-Sue, Leonard I., 53 Chand, Komal, 67, 70, 73, 76 Chandarpal, Indranie, 67, 70, 73, 76 Chandarpal, Navindranauth O., 70, 73 Chandisingh, Ranji, 49, 53, 59, 62 Changes at a Glance, 185 Charles, Nellie, 60, 64 Charlie, Matthew R., 71 Chase, Ashton, 49, 107, 109 Cheeks, Randolph E., 48, 54 Chief Parliamentary Counsel, 149 Chin, Allan A., 60 Chin, Ginewing, 63 Chowritmootoo, Isaac, 60 Chowritmootoo, Joshua P., 56, 59 Chung, Arthur, 31, 57, 58, 179 Clarke, Oscar E., 49, 53, 54, 56, 59 Clerks of Parliament, 51, 146 Clerks’ Chairs, 51 Clerks’ Table, 51 Coat of Arms, 50 College of Keizers, 29 Collymore, Clinton C., 57, 61, 64, 67, 70, 73 Colonial Secretary’s Office, 141 Combined Court, 29 Committees, 137 Commonwealth Parliamentary Association, 31, 36, 171, Comrade, 57, 127
 Constituencies, 83 Constituent Assembly, 58 Constitutional Instruments, 153, 155 Coonjah, Lilawtie, 147 Corbin, Robert Herman Orlando, 56, 59, 62, 68, 74, 75, 77, 113 Correia, Eugene F., 48, 53 Corrica, Malcolm, 53, 56, 59 Council of Ministers, 44 Council of Policy and Justice, 29 Court of Justice, 29 Court of Policy, 29, 31, 32 Cox, Eileen R., 147 Crum Ewing, Alexander Irving, 31, 146 Cumberbatch, Mortimer, 64 Custodian, 148, 189 d’Aguiar, Peter Stanislaus, 46, 48, 54 Dalchand, 58, 61 Daniel, Patricia, 64
 Danny, Dave D., 77 Dates of Elections, 88 David, Reynold, 68 David-Blair, Judith, 74, 77 Davidson, Elaine B., 60, 63 Deen, Mohamed Idris, 64 De Freitas, Kelvin Wesley DeJesus, Cyrilda A., 71 Delph, Richard M.F., 149 Denham, Sir Edward, 33, 102 Deputy Clerks, 51, 145 Deputy Speakers, 105 DeFreitas, John S., 71 DeGroot, David B., 49 DeJesus, Cyrilda A., 64 246 DeSantos, Bernard C., 67, 70, 73, 76 DeSouza, F. Vibert, 67, 70 DeSouza, Joseph M., 67, 70 Dev, Ravi, 72, 74 Deygoo, Edith, 64 Dhurjon, Cecil, 149 Dindayal, 58 Discoverie of Guiana, 12, 23 Discovery of the Country, 23 Dissolution, 129 Documents, 153 Documents by the Producer, 191 Domingo, B.L., 64 Doobay, Harry, 60, 63 Dorrick, Abel, 61 Douglas-Jones, Sir Crawford, 102 Dress for Sittings, 54, 122, 189 Duke, Edgar Mortimer, 149 Duke of Edinburgh Duncan, Philip, 50, 53, 56 D’Urban, Sir Benjamin, 102, 179 Edwards, Clarice A., 64 Edwards, Shirley V., 67, 70, 73, 76 Elected Members Elections Dates, 88 Electoral Systems, 82 Elliot, Ernest B., 77 Estimates and Supplementary, 154 Evans, Randolph, 67 Evan Wong, Robert Victor, 33 Ex Officio Members, 107 Families, 182, Family Connections, 182 FCE Systems, 147 Felix, A.B., 60 Ferreira, Jennifer A., 63, 68 Fernandes, Desmond, 77 Field-Ridley, Royden G.B., 49 Field-Ridley, Shirley M., 53, 55 Finance Committee, 36, 137 Financial Representatives, 29 First Arrivals, 12, 23 First Legislative Council, 32 First Ministers, 39, 109 First Past the Post Electoral System, 82 First
 Staff of Office of the Legislature, 143 First Women Legislators, 113 Flag of Guyana, 50, 185 Forester, Leslie, 147 Forte, Gordon, 147 Fowler, Eugene H.A., 53, 56, 60, 63 Fox, Dr. Desrey, 76 Franchise, 81 Franklin, Everall N., 77 Fraser, Geoffrey A., 70 Fredericks, John Fredericks, Patricia, 60 Fredericks, Roy, 60, 63 Fung-On, George E., 67, 70 Gajraj, J. Ronald, 73 Gajraj, Rahman Baccus, 31, 46, 51, 52, 54, 105 Ganie, Mohamed Hoosain Ganpatsingh, Milton L., 71 Gaskin, Winifred, 48 Gazettes, 154 Geddes,
 Claude L., 64 Geographical seats, 82 Gilbert, E.F., 60 Gill-Mingo, Joyce, 56, 60, 63 Goveia, Andy, 68, 71, 74 Governments, Parties Forming, 98 Governor-General of Canada, 54 Governors, 51, 103 Governors-General, 51, 54, 103 Gowns and wigs, 54 Gray, Cecil Green, Hamilton, 34, 52, 55, 59, 61, 62, 65, 111 Greenidge, Carl B., 63 Grey, Sir Ralph F.A., 103 247 Guggisberg, Sir Frederick, 32, 102 Guiana, the name Habibulla, Azamudeen, 63 Hamid, A. Maccie, 49, 53 Hamilton, Joseph L., 71 Hanoman, Dr. Hughley H., 67, 70 Hansard, 147, 154 Hansard Editors, 147 Harding, Dr.
Faith A., 63, 68, 71 Harewood-Benn, Yvonne V., 59, 63, Harper, Dr. Oliver M.R., 55 Hartman, Ivor, 147 Haynes, William, 53, 56 Henry, Maurice B., 147 Hesse, Cara, 161 Hicks, Andrew, 71 Hinds, Denzil, 61 Hinds, Samuel Archibald Anthony, 67, 68, 70, 71, 73, 76,111 Holder, Doreen Evelyn, 161 Holder, Sheila V.A., 74 Hope, Frank E., 55, 59 House of Assembly, 38 Hoyte, Hugh Desmond, 33, 53, 55, 59, 61, 65, 68, 71, 72, 74, 111, 112 Hubbard, H. Jocelyn Makepeace, 49 Hukumchand a/k Parag, 68 Hussain, Wahid, 56 Incidents, 183, Insanally, S. Rudolph, 73, 76 Interim Legislative Council, 41 Internal self-government, 45 Inter-Parliamentary Union, 30, 31, 61,172, Introduction, 11 Isaacs, Sherlock Ewart, 146, 147 Jack, Hubert O., 55, 59 Jackson, Rashleigh E., 59, 63, 142 Jackson, Sir Donald Edward, 31, 105 Jackson, Sir Wilfred E.F., 102 Jacob, Dr. Charles R., Jr., 49 Jagan, Dr. Cheddi, 31, 49, 53, 57, 61, 64, 66, 68, 70, 109,110, 111, 112 Jagan, Derek Chunilall, 33, 49, 53, 66, 69, 72,105 Jagan, Janet, 31, 57, 61, 64, 67, 69, 71, 105, 111, 113 Jagdeo, Bharrat, 70, 71, 72, 74, 75, 111, Jairam, K.V., 60 Jaiserrisingh, Satti, 56 James, Basil, 57 James, Una, 67 Jeffrey, Dr. Henry B., 67, 70, 73, 76 Joaquin, John Gabriel, 49, 53 John, C.M.
Llewellyn, 48, 53 Johnson, Urmia E., 59, 63 Jonas, Keith M.E., 56 Jones, Kenneth, 60 Jordan, Robert J., 48, 52 Joseph, Dr. Dalgleish, 71, 74 Kadir, Abdul, 74 Kasim, Mohamed, 48, 52, 56 Kendall, William O.R., 48 Khan, Jerome, 74 Khan, Kadim A., 71 Khan, Mohamed F., 76 Khan, Ricky, 74 Khan, Y., 64 King, Ingram R., 146 King, Dr. Kenneth F.S., 55, 68 King, Kenneth Carnegie, 148 King, Sydney Evanson, 109 Kings and Queens, 101 Kissoon, Alston A., 67, 70 Kissoon, Jailall, 63 Kissoon, Vanessa, 77 Kowlessar, Saisnarine, 73 Kramer, Winston, 161 Kumar, Ganraj, 57 Kungebeharry, Derek, 148 Kwayana, Eusi, 64 248 Lachhmansingh, Dr. Joseph Prayag, 110 112 La Cruz, Eugene, 67 Lalbahadur, Lallbachan, 57 Lall, Goberdhan Harry, 49, 53 Lall, Kellawan, 76 Lall, Dr. Moti, 67, 70 Land of Many Waters, 12 Latchminarayan, Bhagmattee, 60, 64 Lawrence, Volda A., 71, 74, 77 Leader of the House, 110 Leaders of the Opposition/Minority Leaders, Legal Draftsman, 149 Legislative Assembly, 45 Legislative Bodies, 97 Legislative Council Advisory Committees, 36, 137 Legislature/Parliament, 117 Lethem, Sir Gordon J, 103 Library, 160 Limerick, Patricia Anita, 53 Linde, Lloyd, 49 London, Howard, I., 60 Lord, Wellesley T., 42,109 Lowe, Sherwood A.J., 71 Luck, J.R.S., 49 Luckhoo, Edward Victor, 54, 103 Luckhoo, Joseph Alexander, 149 Lumumba, Odinga N., 70, 73, 76 Lusinchi, Jaime, 178 Luyt, Sir Richard Edmonds, 50, 51, 103, 179 M.P., 128, 188 Mace, 124, 188 Mahraj, Deoroop, 48 Maitland-Singh, Jean, 59 Manickchand, Priya D., 76 Marshal, 51, 148, 189
 Marshall, George, 64 Massiah, Keith S., 149 McAllister, James K., 74, 77 McDavid, Sir (Edwin) Frank, 35, 107, 110 McGarrell, S.I., 64 McKenzie, Dr. Patrick L., 68 McRae, A., 60 Meetings, Places of, 119 Melville, Edwina, 63 Melville, Shirley J., 74 Merriman, Claude Alfonso, 48 Michener, Roland, 54,177 Ming, C. Stanley, 74 Mingo, C.V., 56 Ministerial system, 15 Ministers, Non-Elected, 113 Ministers, the First, 109 Minister without Portfolio, 110 Minority Leaders/Leaders of the Opposition, 112 Minutes, 154 Mission
 Statement, 148 Mohamed E., 64 Mohamed, S. Feroze, 57, 61, 64, 67, 70,73 Mohan, Heeralall, 70, 73 Monarchs, 101 Moore, Stanley S. A., 59 Moses, George E.F., 147 Motions, 153 M.P., 51 Munroe, Joyce M., 60, 63 Murray, Winston S., 63, 68, 71, 74, 77 Nadir, Manzoor, 68, 71, 73, 76 Nagamootoo, Moses V., 67, 70, 76 Nandlall, Mohabir A., 76 Narain, Frank Alston, 18, 34, 66, 143, 146, After Index Narain, Sase, 31, 54, 55, 57, 58, 61, 62, 65, 68, 105, 179 Naraine, S.S., 55, 59 Nascimento, Christopher A.
(Kit),56, 59 249 National Anthem, 50, 185 National Congress of Local Democratic Organs, 93 National Democratic Institute, 161 National Top Up Seats, 82 Nawbatt, Harry Narine, 76 Neendkumar, 76 Nestor, Lurlene A., 74 Ng-See-Quan, Simon H., 68 Ninvalle, Steve P., 76 Nissar, Mohamed, 56 Nokta, Harripersaud, 58, 64, 67, 70, 73, 76 Non-Elected Ministers, 113 Non-Elected Parliamentary Secretaries, 113 Northcote, Sir Geoffrey Alexander Stafford, 35, 102 Norton, Aubrey C., 71, 77 Norton, Dr. George A., 74, 77 Notice Papers, 153 Nunes, C. Vernon, 49 Oaths, 126, 153 Odie-Ali, Stella, 63 Office of the Legislature, 51, 143 Official Members, 107 Opposition Leaders, 112 Order Paper and Supplementary, 153 Ordinances/Acts, 159 Owen, George D., 102 Ownership of the Country, 23 Panday, Basdeo, 178 Parliament Chamber, 119 Parliament Office, 51, 144 Parliamentary Documents, 153 Parliamentary Library, 160,189, Parliamentary Secretaries, Non- Elected, 113 Parris, W.A.L.
Haslyn, 62 Parties Allocation of Seats, 89 Parties Forming Governments, 98 Patterson, David, 77 Patterson, Shirley Merle (Same as Shirley Merle Field-Ridley) Paul, Bagot, 67 Persaud, Balchand, 53 Persaud, Basil, 64 Persaud, Bhola, 53 Persaud, Guya L.B., 149 Persaud, Narbada, 57, 61 Persaud, Parmanand, 76 Persaud, Robert M., 76 Persaud, Reepu Daman, 49, 53, 57, 61, 64, 65, 67, 70, 73 Persico, Jean M.G., 63, 68, 71 Peterkin, Myrna E.N., 74 Peters, Albertino, 71 Peters, Ivan, 68 Phillips-Gay, Jane, 114 Places of Meetings, 119 Pollard, Brynmor T.I., 149 Political Affairs Committee, 36 Political Parties, 86 Pompey, Cecelia G., 147 Poonai, Mohendernauth, 49 Popular Party, 31 Portuguese, 23, 24 Potter, Robert Cyril Gladstone, 50 Prashad, Hari, 49 Prashad, Manniram, 76 Prashad, Seeram, 56, 59, 63 Prayers, 126, 189 Precedence, Table of, 130 Preface, 11 Premiers, 48, 110, 188 Present Staff of Parliament Office, 144 President of Suriname, 65, 178 President of Venezuela, 65, 178 Presidents, 104 Presidents of Upper Houses, 107 Presiding Officials, 104 250 Prime Ministers, 50, 111, 188 Primo, R.N., 60 Prince Philip, 47 Producer, About the, After the Index at the end Proportional Representation System, 82 Prorogation, 129 Public Accounts Committee, 137 Public address system, 54 Public Buildings, 30, 66, 119 Queen Elizabeth II, 50 Questions and Replies, 153 Raatgever, William John, 105 Rai, Balram Singh, 43, 45 Rajkumar, Ramesh C., 73 Raleigh, Painting of, 13 Raleigh, Sir Walter, 12, 13 Ramdas, Kumkaran, 67, 71, 73 Ramjattan,
 Khemraj, 67, 70, 73, 77 Ramjohn, Dr. Subhan Ali, 49 Ram Karran (Boysie), 49, 53, 57, 61 Ramkarran, Hari Narayen, 36, 70, 72, 74, 75,105 Ramotar, Donald R., 67, 70, 73, 76 Ramphal, James Isaac, 42,109 Ramphal, Sir Shridath S., 52, 55, 149 Ramratan a/k Balkarran, 67, 70 Ramsahoye, Dr. Fenton H.W., 49, 53 Ramsahoye, Lyttleton E., 56 Ramsammy, Dr. Leslie S., 70, 73, 76 Ramsaran, Dr. Bheri S.,73, 76 Ramsaroop, Bishwaishwar, 53, 55, 59 Ramson, Charles R., 70 Ramson, Joseph G., 56 Rashid, Harun, 59 Rayman,
 Philomena A., 56, 60 Recess, 65, 128, 189, Reid, Ptolemy A., 48, 52, 55, 59, 111 Referendum, 58 Remington, Ivan, 53 Remuneration to Legislators, 165 Renison, Sir Patrick Muir, 103 Replies to Questions, 153 Republic, 54 Resolutions, 153 Richards, Joan, 68 Riehl, Clarissa Sabita, 68, 71, 74, 75, 77, 106 Rise, Organise and Rebuild Guyana Rodney, Lawrence E., 67, 70 Rodrigues, Eustace S., 71 Rodrigues-Birkett, Carolyn, 73, 76 Rohee, Clement J., 67, 70, 73, 76 Roopnaraine, Dr. Rupert, 71 Rose, Sir David James Gardiner, 51, 54, 103 Rules of Procedure Saffee, Sheik M., 49, 53 Sahoye-Shury, Philomena, 53, 70, 73, 76 Salaries, 165 Salim, Abdul, 53, 56 Sallahuddin, 59 Sancho, Thomas Anson, 49 Sankat, Ramsundar, 70 Sarney, Jose, 65, 178 Savage, Sir Alfred W.L., 103 Sawh, Dharamdeo, 63 Sawh, Satyadeow, 70, 73 Scott, Keith, 77 Seating Arrangements, 123 Seats Allocated to Parties, 89 Seeraj, Dharamkumar, 76 Selman, Africo, 77 Semple, Rose I., 64 Senate, 107 Sergeant-at-Arms, 51, 147, 189 Sergeant-at-Arms’ Chair, 51 Settlers Shadick, Bibi S., 73, 76 Shahabuddeen, Dr. Mohamed, 59, 62 Sharma, C. Gowkarran, 60, 63 251 Shirt jac, 54, 122, 189 Singh, Dr. Ashni K., 76 Singh, Cora A., 60 Singh, David A., 53 Singh, Doodnauth, 73, 76 Singh, Harold L. B., 60 Singh, Jai Narine, 110 Singh, M. Feilden, 54, 57, 61, 64,112 Smith, Chantalle L., 77 Smith, Whitney, 50 Society of Clerks, 172 Sources of Information, 20 Spaniards Speaker’s Chair, 51 Speakers, 105 Staff of Colonial Secretary’s
 Office, 142 Staff of Parliament Office, 143,144 Standing Orders, 54, 153, 157 State Council, 107 Statements by Ministers, 153 Stephens, Magnus, 64 Stoby, Eugene M., 49, 53, 56 Stoby, Sir Kenneth Sievewright, 51, 103 Subhan, Neaz, 71 Subnauth, David, 68 Sukhai, Pauline R, 67, 70, 73, 76 Sukhu, Sydney H., 56, 60 Sukul, Chandricka, 56 Superannuation Benefits for Legislators,166, Supreme Congress of the People, 93 Supreme Organs of Democratic Power, 93 Suriname, President of, 65, 178 Systems of Elections, 82 Table
 of Precedence, 130 Taylor, Hugh A., 56 Teekah, Vincent R., 53 Teixeira, Gail, 67, 70, 73, 76 Tello, Rupert C., 49 The United Force, 66, 68 Thomas, Dr. Clive Y., 68 Thomas, James Henry, 49 Thomas, Jeffrey R., 53, 56, 59, 63 Tiwari, Bidiawattie, 60 Too Chung, Cyril Victor, 46, 47, 49, 54, 107 Tross, Herbert H., 146 Trotman, Rev.
Alex B., 49 Trotman, Enerva, 64 Trotman, Raphael G.C.,71, 74, 77 Tyndall, Joseph A., 59 Tyndall, Kenrick, 68 Ullmer, Deborah, 161 Unicameral/Bicameral Legislatures, 118 United Force, 44 Upper Houses, Presidents of, 107 Upper Houses, Vice-Presidents of, 107 Van Sluytman, Ralph C., 53, 56, 57, 59 Vandenburg, Calvin, 60 Van West-Charles, Dr. Richard A., 59, 63 Venezuela, President of, 65,178 Viapree, Elwyn Valentine, 31, 146 Vice-Presidents of Upper Houses, 107 Vieira, Anthony, 77 Voting age, 54 Wade, Jennifer, 77 Waddington, Sir (Eubule) John, 35, 102 Walcott, Huldah B., 60 Walcott, Shelida, 161 Webster, Jennifer I., 76 Westford, Dr. Jennifer R.A., 73, 76 Wharton, Henry M.S., 49 Whittaker, Norman A., 76 Whips, 190, Wigs and gowns, 54, 189, Willems, Lola E., 56 Williams, Basil, 77 Williams, Matheson, 68 Williams, Mervyn, 77 252 Williams, Robert E., 59, 63 Willings, Charles Henry, 148 Wilson, Earl M.G., 49, 53 Women Legislators, The First, 113 Woolford, Sir Eustace Gordon, 34, 10 Woolley, Sir Charles Campbell, 103 Wrights, Conrad E., 53, 56, 60 Xavier, C. Anthony, 70, 73 Zaheeruddeen, M., 53, 56 Zephyr, Winslow Martin, 34, 67, 69, 70, 72, 105 253 ABOUT THE PRODUCER In 1951, Frank Alston Narain, at the age of 19 years, joined the British Guiana Civil Service at the Public Buildings in Georgetown, as a Class II Clerk in the Colonial Secretary’s Office, the highest office with the responsibility for the administration of the Colony.
There he worked with several Officers including the Clerk of the Legislative Council.
When, in 1953, a new Constitution, providing, inter alia, for a Ministerial system of Government, was introduced, and Ministries were established, the Colonial Secretary’s Office was phased out and a new and separate Department – the Office of the Legislature – was established to serve the new Bicameral Legislature and Frank Narain was taken over to that Department in the same Public Buildings from its first day, 8th April, 1953.
He remained at that new Department for 49 more years and obtained all his promotion there, from becoming in 1966, the Clerk of the National Assembly – Head of the Parliament Office and Chief Executive Officer to the Parliament of Guyana.
He has been on Parliamentary Training Attachments at Westminster, London, and at Stormont, Northern Ireland, and has attended Parliamentary Conferences in seventeen Countries of the Commonwealth, where he also attended meetings and had discussions and exchanged views with his counterparts.

He has, over the years, been invited to talk and has talked to hundreds of persons about our Parliament – its composition, its role, its powers and functions, its special procedures, etc.
These have included the Ministers and other Members of Parliament, the Diplomatic Spouses, Parliamentary and Government Officials, Students of the University of Guyana and of Secondary Schools, Members of the Youth Parliament, Representatives of the Press, and several other groups and individuals.

254 He has prepared and distributed several handouts on Parliament.
He was granted three National Awards – the Guyana Independence Medal (1966) (PNC Administration), the Golden Arrow of Achievement (A.A.) (1978) (PNC Administration), and the Cacique’s Crown of Honour (C.C.H.)

(1998) (PPP Administration), for long and dedicated service of a consistently high standard.
After fifty-one years of service, thirty-six as Clerk of the National Assembly, all associated with the work of Parliament, all in the same building, still officially called the Public Buildings, but more popularly known as the Parliament Building, in Georgetown, Frank Narain, at the age of 70 years, retired in 2002, from the Government and Parliamentary Service of Guyana.

He is perhaps the longest serving Clerk and the longest serving Parliamentary Official in the Commonwealth.

255