Dr Karen Cummings the likely successor to Backer in Parliament

Feb 04, 2014 News

…decision still to be taken on nomination for Deputy Speaker – Granger

Dr Karen Cummings, wife of Peoples Progressive Party candidate, Dr Emmanuel Cummings, has all but been confirmed as the replacement in the National Assembly for A Partnership for National Unity’s (APNU), Deborah Backer.

Dr Karen Cummings

While a number of party sources have confirmed that Dr Cummings is the pick, APNU Leader David Granger, would only confirm that she is being considered among other persons.
He said that a final decision has not been made as yet.
According to Granger, following a formal announcement by Backer the party’s executives would have to meet and take a decision.
He explained that while APNU is a coalition in Parliament and since Backer comes from the People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR), that party will be making the decision.
Former Chairman of the PNCR Bishwaiswar “Cammie” Ramsaroop, is currently the representative of the list of candidates for the coalition and will ultimately have the final say in who will be named as the successor.
Granger said yesterday that as had been the case when determining who would be seated in parliament following the 2011 election; there is a formula that will be used.
He spoke to the gender balance and geographic representation among other criteria.
Dr Cummings in an invited comment yesterday said that while it was not in an official capacity, she has been asked if she would be willing to fill the void left by Backer.
She however did not deny her willingness to serve as a Member of Parliament in the APNU benches
As it relates to who the party will be nominating to be elected as Deputy Speaker, a position currently held by Backer, the APNU leader said that this too will be subject to discussion when the executives meet.
He said that a final decision has not been made as yet but given the challenges of the portfolio they are going to be looking for a competent enough person.
He lauded Backer competency to hold the position pointing to her knowledge of the Parliamentary Standing Orders, her legal training, and her knack for research before handing down decisions.
Backer missed a number of sittings of the National Assembly after she fell ill late last year and had to be hospitalized.
She was subsequently flown to a Florida Hospital for further treatment.

Deputy Speaker, Deborah Backer

Granger had previously told this publication that she was expected back in Guyana for the January 16, sitting of the National Assembly but this did not happen. Parliament met on January 23, last, and she was again absent from the House.
Since Backer was first hospitalized in Guyana the family and party members have been tightlipped on her condition and even the visitors to the Hospital had been kept to a minimum.
Backer, who is currently the serving Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly, is also a well known Attorney-at-Law.
Backer is a member of the Central Executive Committee (CEC) and Vice-Chairman of the Peoples National Congress Reform.
She has been a Parliamentarian since 1997 and had also served on the Georgetown City Council in 1994.
Backer is also a serving member of a number of important organisations such as the Lions Club International and is currently an organising member of the Women’s Millennium Caucus.