Lenox Shuman
Guyanese politician (born 1973)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Lenox Ron O'Dell Shuman[1] (born 13 September 1973)[2] is a Guyanese former politician who served as Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly of Guyana and Member of Parliament from 2 September 2020 to 31 March 2023. He is also the founder of the Liberty and Justice Party.[3]
Lenox Shuman | |
|---|---|
| |
| Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly of Guyana | |
| In office 2 September 2020 – 31 March 2023 | |
| Preceded by | Deborah Backer |
| Succeeded by | Asha Kissoon |
| Member of the National Assembly | |
| In office 2 September 2020 – 31 March 2023 | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 13 September 1973 (age 52) |
On 2 September 2020, Shuman became the first Indigenous-Guyanese to become Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly.[4]
Background
Shuman was born on 13 September 1973. His mother was of mixed race, and his father descended from a long line of Lokono chiefs.[5] In 1990, the family emigrated to Canada. He graduated from Confederation College in business and obtained a pilot licence.[2] Before entering the world of politics, Shuman was a Canadian citizen working as a pilot for Sunwing Airlines.[6] In 2009, he married Amanda Van Herten.[2]
In 2009,[2] Shuman returned to Guyana, and was elected toshao (village chief) for St. Cuthbert's Mission in 2015.[4][2] The same year,[2] he was elected vice-chairman of the National Toshaos Council.[4] In 2019, the courts ruled that members of the National Assembly had to have Guyanese citizenship only,[7] therefore Shuman relinquished his Canadian citizenship, to form the Liberty and Justice Party and run for president in the March 2020 Guyanese general election.[6]
