As Guyana ushered in Indigenous Heritage Month, history was created at the opening of the 12th Parliament on Tuesday when Lenox Shuman was elected as the National Assembly’s first Indigenous Deputy Speaker. Mr. Shuman was nominated by Prime Minister, Brigadier (Ret’d) Hon. Mark Phillips and seconded by Minister of Parliamentary Affairs and Governance, Hon. Gail Teixeira.
Guyana Elects First Indigenous Deputy Speaker
Mr. Shuman said the nomination came as a surprise. His expectation was only to be sworn in as the Parliamentary representative of the three joinder parties; The New and United Guyana (ANUG), the Liberty and Justice Party (LJP) and the New Movement (TNM).
Nevertheless, the new Deputy Speaker said that it will be a honour and a privilege to serve in the capacity.
Shuman appears in court with traditional wear
Mr. Shuman who served as Toshao of St. Cuthbert’s Mission and Vice Chairman of the National Toshaos Council, said his election as Deputy Speaker represents growth for the Indigenous People of Guyana. He also hopes his new role inspires young Indigenous men and women to be more ambitious.
Check out the below video, from March 2020, where Lenox Shuman was briefly prevented from entering the High Court in his traditional indigenous wear:
“We should look at the sky as the limit. There should be no limit,’ he urged.
“I am very happy to say that Her Excellency Caroline Rodrigues- Birkett is now our Permanent rep at the United Nations and that is a massive growth for the Indigenous Peoples. Now we have an Indigenous Deputy Speaker of the House. I am hopeful that in the next 15 to 20 years that we are going to see an Indigenous Speaker of the House. We are going to see an indigenous Prime Minister and one day see an indigenous President,” Mr. Shuman added.
As the Deputy Speaker, he pledged to be apolitical and act in the best interest of the people, while as the Member of Parliament representing the joinder parties, he promised to work for all of Guyana, with a special interest on the development of the Hinterland.
SOURCE: Guyana Gov’t
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