President announces new MPs

…Bond, Latchman, Shuman, Ramsaroop among new PPP/C Members of Parliament

President Dr Irfaan Ali has announced several new Members of Parliament (MPs) who will represent the governing People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) in the 13th Parliament. The list includes attorney James Bond, former Minister Anand Persaud, Indigenous leader Lenox Shuman, businessman and Guyana’s Chief Investment Officer Peter Ramsaroop, attorney Sanjeev Datadin, and Sonia Latchman. They will join the newly sworn-in Cabinet in representing the PPP/C’s majority in the National Assembly.
In addition, Thandi McAllister and Mischka White-Griffith have been appointed Parliamentary secretaries. Both are expected to provide key support to the Government’s Parliamentary agenda.
The selection of the group marks a significant political shift, given that most of them were once high-profile members of A Partnership for National Unity (APNU). In fact, James Bond resigned from the party ahead of the 2025 elections, joining a growing list of APNU defectors dissatisfied with Aubrey Norton’s leadership. Among others who left the People’s National Congress (PNC) are Dr Richard Van-West Charles and Thandi McAllister, who now finds herself serving under the PPP/C Government.

New advisors
Alongside the new Parliamentary team, President Ali has also appointed new advisors. Former Minister of Home Affairs Robeson Benn has been named Senior Advisor on Home Affairs and Natural Resources. He was succeeded in the Cabinet by Oneidge Walrond, who previously held the Tourism, Industry and Commerce portfolio. Meanwhile, former Labour Minister Joseph Hamilton has been appointed Advisor in Labour and Manpower Planning, with his former Ministerial seat now occupied by newcomer Keoma Griffith.
Speaking at the swearing-in event, President Ali praised the PPP/C’s landslide electoral victory, describing it as the product of “hard work, relentless sacrifices, and the trust of ordinary Guyanese.” He emphasised that the win was not only a celebration of the party’s vision but also a mandate to deliver transformative results for citizens across the country.
“The next five years are the most decisive years in our history,” the President said. “They must be years that are results-driven, people-centred, and marked by the efficient delivery of service.”
“Speaking about the necessity to get the ground running. Speaking about the clarity of the vision and the level of effort that is required to achieve that vision. And I know also that our country has expectations, and one such expectation was to see massive changes and shifts,” the Head of State added.
He underscored that the responsibility of governance extended beyond Ministers, reaching advisors, Parliamentarians, and technical officers tasked with ensuring that the administration’s programmes are effectively implemented. Ali stressed that every appointment was made with consideration for the speed and scale of results expected by the Guyanese people.
“And those who are coming in the whole arm of Government, you have that responsibility too, because we are all part of this process. So the individuals upon whom the solemn oath, the duty of Ministerial responsibility, advisory responsibility, Parliamentary responsibility, and technical responsibility will be conferred would have all been entrusted with portfolios and responsibilities for the delivery of our programme and the delivery of our plan. Together with me, the Prime Minister, the Vice President, and the rest of the Cabinet, the advisors, and the technical people that will form part of this team, including our members of Parliament, we intend to deliver to the people of this country upon all the commitments and promises we would have made.”
“Whether you serve in the Cabinet, in the Parliament, in the Advisory Council, or in the Technical Support Council, all of you. And importantly, to those who will form the foundation of the success of the Government. Those who work on the ground, in the communities, in the region,” Ali stated.
The governing People’s Progressive Party Civic (PPP/C) swept the polls with a commanding 242,498 votes, earning 36 seats and retaining control of the National Assembly.
With 36 seats secured, the PPP/C dominates the new Parliament, positioning itself to advance its ambitious development agenda with strong backing both inside and outside the House.