Opposition refuses seats on govt boards – Min. Harmon

─ Cabinet approves appointments for members of govt agency boards and commissions

DPI, Guyana, Friday, March 29, 2019

Minister of State Joseph Harmon highlighted that provisions are continually made for members of the opposition to serve on boards and commissions of government agencies, however, these positions are not taken up.

This was noted as the State Minister briefed media personnel at a post-Cabinet press briefing, on March 29.

“It is to be noted that provision has been made on all of these boards for the appointment of members of the opposition, but it is important to note that over the last period that none of these positions was taken up,” he said.

During Cabinet’s meeting on March 26, 2019, the appointment of chairpersons and members of several government agency boards and commissions were approved. To serve for one and two-year periods.

The approvals were as follows:

In the Natural Resources sector, Stanley Ming is the Chairperson of the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission. He will serve along with sixteen members.

The Guyana Forestry Commission will be chaired by Jocelyn Dow along with 12 members.

Thirdly, the Guyana Gold Board will be chaired by Gabriel Lall along with five members.

These three bodies within the natural resources sector will all serve for a period of one year.

In the Social Protection Sector, Attorney-At-Law James Bond will serve as the chairperson of the Adoption Board. The life of this board extends from February 1 to December 31, 2019, and comprises of six other members

The National Commission for the Elderly will be chaired by Yvette Audrey De Leon. She will serve along with eight other members for one year from March 1, 2019, to February 28, 2020.

The National Advisory Council on Occupation, Safety and Health will be Chaired by Earl Morris. He will be serving on that council with 17 other members.

Otherwise, Minister Harmon said, “Approval has been granted for the appointment of the Board of Directors of the Linden Utilities Company Inc for two years from March 1, 2019, to February 28, 2021. Stacy Johnson is the chairperson and he will have along with him six members on that board.”

Also, Cabinet gave its consent to the appointment of the Board of Directors of the National Trust for two years with effect from January 2019 to December 2021. Patricia La Fleur, Secretary General of UNESCO is appointed the chairperson and will be joined by eight other members on that commission.

Delicia Haynes

Image: The Department of Public Information