Minister of Parliamentary Affairs and Governance and Government Chief Whip, Gail Teixeira was honoured and bestowed with the Commonwealth Parliamentarian Lifetime Achievement Award at the 67th Commonwealth Parliamentary Conference (CPC) on November 7, 2024, in Sydney, Australia.
A release yesterday from the Parliament Office here said that the Award was presented during the Conference’s Award Ceremony, where Manzoor Nadir, Speaker of the National Assembly of Guyana, supported by Savitri Parag, MP, Minister of Local Government and Regional Development; Ganesh Mahipaul, MP, and Sherlock Isaacs, Clerk of the National Assembly, accepted on behalf of Teixeira.
The Commonwealth Parliamentarian of the Year Awards celebrate active and inspiring Parliamentarians excelling in their fields. To receive the Parliamentarian Lifetime Achievement Award, the following criteria must be fulfilled, the release said.
The nominee must have been a parliamentarian for over 20 years, and over that time must have:
– demonstrated an impressive record of achievement as a parliamentarian in their contribution to their Parliament and to their country;
– promoted democracy and good governance within their jurisdiction; and
– achieved notable and sustainable positive change over the course of their career.
The release said that Teixeira was nominated for this award by the Parliament of Guyana in September 2024. Following her nomination, she was selected as this year’s recipient after meeting all outlined criteria of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA).
Teixeira’s parliamentary service spans more than three decades, marked by her commitment to principled leadership, her leadership in the areas of Governance, accountability and consultation. The Hon. Minister’s dedication to serving her constituents and the public has been exemplar, and she has earned the respect and trust of her colleagues while demonstrating an unwavering dedication to country, duty, skillfully leading her teams, and fostering collaboration among parliamentary members.
Teixeira has served in four ministerial roles since 1992:
– Minister of Health (1992-1997)
– Minister of Culture, Youth and Sports (1998-2005)
– Minister of Home Affairs (2005-2006)
– Minister of Parliamentary Affairs and Governance (2020-present)
In addition to her roles as Minister, Teixeira served as the Presidential Advisor on Governance (2006-2015), where she established and led the Governance Unit within the Office of the President.
