The APNU+AFC Opposition has outlined its shadow Ministers who will take on the task of scrutinising the work of government ministers and offering alternative policies. The Village Voice was able to get its hands on an official line up which pairs experienced former ministers with newcomers.
Assigned to the areas of Economic and International Affairs, inclusive of business, finance and foreign affairs, is former Minister of Natural resources and Chairman of the Alliance For Change (AFC), Raphael Trotman; former Minister of Business, Haimraj Rajkumar and Attorney-at-Law, Amanza Walton.
They will examined the work of Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo, who has responsibility for Finance; Minister of Tourism, Industry and Commerce, Oneige Waldron and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Hugh Todd.
Zeroing in on Guyana’s newest extractive sector, oil and gas, will be former Minister of Public Infrastructure, David Patterson along with newcomer, MP Maureen Philadelphia. The two will keep an eye on the management of Guyana’s oil resources by Minister of Natural Resources, Vickram Bharrat
Focusing on one of Guyana’s more traditional sectors, Agriculture, will be AFC Leader, Khemraj Ramjattan. His placement in this area will also see him focusing on the environment, fisheries, forestry and governance. He will be assisted by People’s National Congress/Reform (PNCR) Region Five Chair, Vinceroy Jordan and first-time representative of Region Four, Deonarine Ramsaroop.
They will come up against Minister of Agriculture, Zulfikar Mustapha; Minister of Parliamentary Affairs and Governance, Gail Teixeira and Minister Bharrat. The area of justice, inclusive of citizenship, legal affairs and labour, will be manned by Attorney-at-Law, Roysdale Forde and General Secretary of Guyana Teachers’ Union (GTU), MP Coretta McDonald. They will butt heads with Attorney General, Anil Nandlall and Minister of Labour, Joseph Hamilton.
Meanwhile, Minister of Education, Priya Manickchand will have to deal with the scrutiny of former Minister of Public Education, Dr. Nicolette Henry and newcomer teacher from the hinterland, MP Ronald Cox.
Likewise, Minister of Health, Dr. Frank Anthony will have to answer to Former Minister of Health and Foreign Affairs, Dr. Karen Cummings and newcomer MP Natasha Singh-Lewis. The MPs will also focus on child care, women and social protection which will see them looking over the shoulder of Minister of Human Services and Social Security, Dr. Vindhya Persaud.
Minister Vickram Bharrat will also have to look out for former Minister of Telecommunication, Catherine Hughes; well-known teacher, Nima Flue-Bess and PNC/R pick, Shurwayne Holder. These MPs will focus on the area of energy which encompasses mining, natural resources, telecommunications and minor oil and gas issues. Back in her area of expertise is former Junior Minister of Indigenous People’s Affairs, Dawn Hastings-Williams who will now monitor the work of Minister of Amerindian Affairs, Pauline Campbell-Sukhai. She will also monitor developments related to the hinterland and will be assisted by Member of the Guyana Action Party (GAP), Vincent Henry and District Eight representative, MP Richard Sinclair.
As expected, the youthful Jermaine Figueira and Juretha Fernandes have been asked to trace the work in the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport, currently being manned by Minister Charles Ramson (Jr). Still in her area of expertise too is former Junior Minister of Public Infrastructure and, later, junior Minister Communities with the responsibility for Housing, Annette Ferguson. She will focus on the area of Public Utility inclusive of electricity and transportation with the help of MP Devin Sears. They will critique the performance of Ministers of Works, Juan Edghill and Deodat Indar.
Minister of Home Affairs, Robeson Benn will be shadowed by former Magistrate, Geeta Chandan-Edmond and AFC Executive, Sherod Duncan. They will take on the area of public security which includes human safety and law enforcement. Meanwhile, ex-Working People’s Alliance (WPA) Member of former Minister of Public Service, Tabitha Sarabo-Halley as well as Region Three representative Ganesh Mahipaul and University of Guyana (UG) lecturer, MP Dineshwar Jaiprashad, will watch over the Ministry of Public Service inclusive of local government. They will come up against Minister of Public Service, Sonia Parag and Minister of Local Government, Nigel Dharamlall.
