The opening of the 12th Parliament is set for early next week at the Arthur Chung Convention Centre where all parliamentary sittings will be held because of COVID-19 concerns.

President Irfaan Ali is set to address the new Parliament just after the swearing-in of new members and the selection of a Speaker.

The PPP is expected to nominate and support its candidate, Sanjeev Datadin as the new Speaker of the National Assembly. Under the Constitution of Guyana, a Deputy Speaker will come from the Opposition side of the House.

The formal selection of Joe Harmon as Leader of the Opposition is also expected to be made at the first sitting.

Workers from the Parliament office were busy today getting set for the opening and at least two additional sittings of the National Assembly next week.

Once the new Parliament is installed, there is expected to be an additional sitting for the budget presentation.

The national budget is expected to be presented at the Thursday sitting. With no Finance Minister appointed as yet and that portfolio under the control of the President’s Office, it is expected that Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo will be making the budget presentation.

The National Assembly has not had a sitting in over a year.

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