TODAY, for the first time in 467 days or over one year, the Government of Guyana will return to Parliament under new circumstances and in recovery from a five-month-long electoral process, which made headlines across the world.
Members of Parliament (MPs) will, this time, take to the Arthur Chung Conference Centre (ACCC) today, an alternative to the Parliament Building Chambers and the best solution for engagement during a world health crisis which has killed almost one million people globally.
It is only the second time that this change of venue has occurred, having first being required in 2002 when then President Bharrat Jagdeo issued a proclamation designating that the National Assembly meet at the Ocean View Convention Centre while renovations to the Public Buildings were ongoing.
Under the new arrangement and likely another first, several MPs are to participate in the proceedings online, from home due to health-related concerns. Even so, and apart from the COVID-19 pandemic, normal circumstances did not lead to the hiatus of Parliament being held.
The last Parliament held was the 115th Sitting of the 11th Parliament which occurred on May 23, 2019. This Sitting, along with the three previous, was boycotted by the then opposition which was displeased with the continuance of operations of the APNU+AFC Government after it had been legally booted by a no-confidence motion.