Dr. Karen Cummings replaces Backer in Parliament

VETERAN Member of Parliament (MP), Ms. Deborah Backer who resigned her seat last Friday, has been replaced by Dr. Karen Cummings.

The latter was sworn in as Backer’s replacement in the National Assembly yesterday.Speaker of the House, Mr. Raphael Trotman acknowledged the loss of Backer as an MP and noted that her resignation was “very sorrowful” news.

He added that a letter from the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) confirmed that Cummings’ name, to replace Backer’s, was taken from A Partnership for National Unity’s (APNU’s) List of Candidates, which was presented on Nomination Day, prior to the December 2011 general elections.

Prior to her swearing in, the new MP met with the Speaker.
Leader of the Opposition, Mr. David Granger welcomed Cummings and observed that she comes with considerable experience in the medical field.

He lauded both her expertise and commitment and added that these will “more than compensate” for the loss of Backer as an MP.

His confidence
Granger expressed his confidence in Cummings’ ability to be able to contribute tangibly to the human development of the Guyanese people.

Prime Minister Samuel Hinds also extended welcome to the new MP and said the Government looks forward to her contribution for the benefit of Guyana.

He expressed his regret at the loss of Backer as a member of the House and tendered his sympathy for her illness.

Cummings is now seated in the second row of the Opposition benches, while APNU MP, Mr. Ronald Bulkan has been promoted to the front bench.

The swearing-in of Cummings was done in accordance with Article 167 of the Constitution.

Debra Backer resigns from Parliament

• Thursday, 06 February 2014 20:50
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The chair that Debra Backer once occupied

• Denis Scott Chabrol 

A Partnership for National Unity’s (APNU) front bencher and Shadow Minister of Foreign Affairs, Debra Backer has resigned as a parliamentarian due to ill health, well-placed sources said.

With Backer resigning, constitutionally it now means that the Speaker of the National Assembly would have to declare the seat vacant. She is current overseas undergoing cancer treatment and would not be back in Guyana for crucial budget debates and possible disapproval of sections.

Constitutionally, he would have to inform the Guyana Elections Commission and call on APNU’s Representative of the List to identify a replacement.

Depending on whether APNU has decided on Medical Doctor, Karen Cummings or any other candidate on its list, that person could be sworn in at next Monday’s sitting of the National Assembly.

Little-known in political circles, Cummings is the wife of University of Guyana Lecturer in Medicine, Dr. Emmanuel Cummings. He joined the governing Peoples Progressive Party Civic’s list of candidates in the 2011 General and Regional Elections.

APNU say that Aubrey Norton, despite his expertise and experience in Politics and International Relations, would not be selected to fill the void left by Backer, an Attorney-at-Law.

Norton has blamed a “small clique’ for ostracising him because he has been outspoken and not a “yes man”. Norton said he has always worked in the best interest of the Peoples National Congress Reform (PNCR)- the major APNU partner- although he has openly supported Carl Greenidge for the party’s leadership rather than incumbent David Granger.