News

The Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU), a global organisation of national Parliaments, commenced hosting its 206^th Session of the Governing Council on Sunday, 1^st November, 2020. The Session, which is being held virtually, is expected to conclude on Wednesday, 4^th November, 2020.

The Parliament of Guyana is represented, at the Session, by Hon. Manzoor Nadir, MP, Speaker of the National Assembly; Hon. Mohabir Nandlall, MP, Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs; and Hon. Dawn Hastings-Williams, MP, who are Members of the Governing Council. Observers from the Parliament of Guyana are Ms. Hermina Gilgeours, Deputy Clerk of the National Assembly, and Ms. Carlleta Charles, Parliamentary Executive Officer.

One hundred and forty-five Member Parliaments and 412 Governing Council Members are participating.

The Council elected a new President of the IPU, Hon. Duarte Pacheco of the Parliament of Portugal, approved spending for 2019 and passed the IPU budget for 2021. A number of reports on the work of the IPU are expected to be shared during the Session.

The Hon. Manzoor Nadir was nominated as a Member to serve on the Standing Committee on Sustainable Development and will serve on the Preparatory Committee for the Fifth World Conference of Speakers and Presiding Officers to be held in Vienna, Austria, in 2021, representing the Group of Latin America and the Caribbean (GRULAC) Geopolitical Group of the IPU.

The objectives of the IPU are to promote democratic governance, institutions and values; to work with Parliaments and Parliamentarians to articulate and respond to the needs and aspirations of the people; and to work for peace, democracy, human rights, gender equality, youth empowerment and sustainable development through political dialogue, cooperation and parliamentary action.