The establishment of the committees is contained in a joint agreement reached between President Bharrat Jagdeo and PNCR Leader Mr. Robert Corbin.

The Parliamentary Sectoral Committees will consist of seven members, four representing the Government and three the Opposition. In addition, both the Government and Opposition are entitled to elect one alternate member each for each of the committees.

The bodies will, in the discharge of their scrutinising role, examine all polices and the administration of each sector, to determine whether the execution of government policy is in accordance with the principles of good governance and in the best interest of all the people of Guyana. They will also determine areas of government activity for scrutiny or specific examination; request the Minister assigned responsibility for the sector to submit written or oral information, including government documents and records about any specific area of government and administration; review existing legislation on government policy and administration for any of the sectors; summon persons to give evidence, scrutinise government documents, papers and records.

The members will visit any government activity or project in the country as agreed and arranged by the Committees; utilise the services of experts, specialists and other sources of advice as they determine; establish a timetable for the conduct of their work; make recommendations to the National Assembly on legislation or any other action to be taken on matters falling within their purview; submit periodic reports to the National Assembly on their work, and invite comments, from the Minister assigned responsibility for the sector on their recommendations or reports.

That day too, a Consensual Mechanism for the Nomination by Entities of Members of the Rights Commission, which provides for the appointment of certain commissions, in particular, the Ethnic Relations Commission; Women’s Gender and Equality Commission; the Indigenous People’s Commission and the Rights of the Child Commission, was also approved.

The mechanisms allow for set procedures to determine the nomination of members and their alternates, including that entities in any group invited to select a nominee for appointment to the Commissions, should be written by the Clerk of the National Assembly inviting them to meet on a day, date, time and place to be agreed by them, to determine their nominee and who should be the replacement.

In addition, the National Assembly also approved a bill which amends Article 197A, thereby widening the powers of the soon-to-be constituted Disciplined Forces Commission to include any matter relating to “public welfare, public safety, public order, defence or security”, and to regulate its own procedure, summon and examine witnesses and prosecute a person for giving false evidence.

At a re-convened sitting of the National Assembly on Friday, the Terms of Reference setting out the guidelines for a Commission of Enquiry to be conducted into the operations of the Disciplined Services was approved.

The Commission, which is to be appointed soon, is expected to complete an interim report that focuses on the Police Force within three months and that its entire work must be completed within six months.

Under the TOR, the Commission will recognise the changing nature of the problems which now confront the disciplined forces; the ethnic diversity of our society; and the level of socio-economic development; and make recommendations for reforms that will lead to greater operational efficiency and effectiveness.

It will also examine, and where necessary, make recommendations on the composition, structure, functions and operations of the Guyana Police Force, bearing in mind the changing nature of crime and influence of the traffic in illicit drugs and firearms, back-tracking and money laundering.

The relevance of the recommendations of the International Commission of Jurists, particularly with regard to racial imbalance in the Force to today’s reality; terms and conditions of employment, remuneration, training, accommodation, criteria for promotion, discipline, equipment and logistical needs; rules of engagement, including manuals of procedure of operation, are all included.

The Commission will comprise five persons, drawn from qualified and competent persons with senior level experience and expertise in any of the following areas: the Judiciary, the legal profession, the Police Force, other Disciplined Forces, human rights organisations, management, or an other relevant disciplines or areas of expertise, and shall be both investigative and advisory.

The Chairperson will be appointed by the President after consultation with the Leader of the Opposition, and both the President and the Leader of the Opposition will each nominate two Commissioners, taking account of the need to consult broadly with human rights and other organisations.

Also on Friday, the National observed the 50th anniversary of the first general elections in British Guiana under adult suffrage held on April, 27, 1953; the winning of the elections by the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) and the election of the Executive Council on May 18, 1953, as historic events of national importance.

Tributes were also paid to those who played a role in the achievement and “in particular, to the people of British Guiana, united across ethnic and class lines.”