Over 23 years of experience as a lawmaker makes me a good fit – new House Speaker

Newly-appointed Speaker of the National Assembly, Manzoor Nadir has shut down claims that he is unsuitable for the position, saying that with more than two decades of experience as a lawmaker, he is more than qualified and competent to head the legislative arm of the State.

Noting that having a legal qualification may be helpful, Nadir was adamant that to become Speaker of the National Assembly, such a qualification was not mandatory.
“I have been a lawmaker for over 23 years, and perhaps that qualifies me to hold two PhDs in law-making; and the Legislature is the law-making arm of the State,” Nadir asserted during an interview on Wednesday evening on Globespan.
“I have had some exposure, and while serving 23 years in previous Parliaments has given me quite a bit of experience, I think my reliance on that experience and the experiences of public life would make me a good fit for this position,” the new Speaker contended.
The House Speaker was also supported by A New and United Guyana Chairman Timothy Jonas, who expressed that Nadir’s service in public life, more particularly his experience as a parliamentarian makes him immensely qualified for the prestigious position.
According to Jonas, who is a lawyer by profession, he was surprised that people ask the question about Nadir’s ‘’legal qualifications” because no such qualification is required to be appointed Speaker of the House.
“The Speaker assists with procedures, with making decisions on procedures and Manzoor, by virtue of his many years of experience, is eminently qualified in my view to do it,” he declared.
He further explained: “The people who talk about having a legal qualification to sit in Parliament missed, to me, what is one of the largest ironies of democracy in the Western system; which is that of the three arms of the State – the Judicature, the Legislature and the Executive – it’s only the Judiciary that got any academic requirements to get the job; any of the others, anyone can do it, once you get enough votes.
“And for that reason, the people who sit in Parliament and are supposed to be making laws and passing laws, those people have never drafted a single piece of legislation…what they do is that they get lawyers from the Parliamentary Council …to draft laws, often borrowed from other countries,” Jonas contended.
With the support of the ruling People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C), Nadir was elected Speaker of the 12th Parliament on Tuesday while Opposition Member of Parliament and Liberty and Justice Party (LJP) Leader Lenox Shuman was elected as Deputy Speaker.
Moments after he secured the position, Speaker Nadir promised to be impartial in the execution of his duties and to work with all sides to ensure that the 12th Parliament was the “most successful” ever.
Nadir posited that as Guyana continued to transform into a more vibrant and stronger democracy within an oil economy, it was of utmost importance that the 12th Parliament be effective, successful, and exemplary.
“As we embark on the commencement on the agenda for this Assembly, I’m enthused and dedicated to making this 12th Parliament one that will positively impact on pertinent issues such as constitutional reform, legislative reform, and the implementation of new laws that cater for our changing realities,” he said.
On this note, Nadir, who has been in politics for some 40 years, said: “I’m committed to working with all sides of the House to ensure that this 12th Parliament be inscribed in our history as being one of the most successful ever.
“Having sat in this House for 23 years plus as a member both on the Opposition and Government sides, I understand the importance of this position. I promise to be impartial, fair and just while upholding the laws, rules, and procedures in the execution of my responsibility as Speaker of this noble House. The veracity of this noble institution must and will be upheld at all times during my tenure.”
The new Speaker went on to congratulate all the first-time Members of Parliament, telling them that the responsibilities that come with membership of the National Assembly require dedication, unbiased dialogue, integrity and, most importantly, acting in the best interests of the people of Guyana – without whom they would not be there.