An article published earlier this year.

That Vanessa Kissoon demotion

The opposition’s ‘Iron Lady’ has resigned. Deborah Backer’s departure from the front bench of A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) will no doubt hurt the party, and has left it in between a rock and a hard place.

There is no doubt in the minds of Guyanese that the party was made more vulnerable to the politics of the ruling party with Backer’s departure. She was a very good Deputy Speaker, People’s National Congress (PNC) strong-woman and politician.

Backer brought a sense of upliftment to the debates in the National Assembly and is respected for the manner in which she articulated various positions, much to the discomfort of the government and its ministers.

She had charm and a moral conscience. The opposition Iron Lady was witty and knew how to keep some parliamentarians in check, especially when she was heckling.

Opposition Leader David Granger will have to look elsewhere for solid advice on the standing orders of the National Assembly and other issues with regard to the workings of Parliament.

Granger has expressed the view that her departure was a “serious blow” for his party but there could be no “serious blow” like the one he gave Vanessa Kissoon on Monday.

Kissoon turned up to the parliament at noon on Monday to be told that she was made a backbencher. She was given no explanation. She was given no prior notice so that she could prepare for the shift. The leadership of APNU disrespected Kissoon in this instance and they know it.

Granger was rather parsimonious with the truth when he told media operatives this week that his decision to move the Member of Parliament (MP) to the backbench was “purely administrative”. We don’t buy it.

Kissoon herself said that the media should ask the APNU what was the “motive” behind the decision. Why wasn’t she moved laterally, as was the case with other MPs? Granger’s attempt to downplay the factionalism within his coalition has not fooled anyone.

He appeared peeved when he was questioned about Aubrey Norton and his association with Kissoon, as well as the party.

If it is true, that the party’s leadership had serious issues with Kissoon and her apparent relations with Norton, then the coalition is headed downhill.

Kissoon is not a ‘yes’ woman and never will be! Some say she has serious reservations about some of the decisions being made by the coalition and how it is handling issues with respect to Linden and Region 10.

There appears to be a rift between Kissoon and the party’s Chief Whip Amna Ally, who also played down the injustice they did to her.  She appeared to be saying it was no big deal.

It is shameful that the APNU has chosen to make both of the representatives of Region 10 backbenchers when one considers the role the votes from that region played in creating the ‘new dispensation’.

Sooner or later the truth is bound to surface. The coalition has crippled the PNC Reform (PNCR), removing from it any political relevance in this era. It has sidelined men and women who were stalwarts in that movement.

Where is James McAllister, Dr Van West Charles, Aubrey Norton, Dr Faith Harding, Vincent Alexander and the others who dared to take unpopular positions within the PNC/APNU?

Granger, like most military officials, has surrounded himself with generals and sergeants who will comply with instructions and ask questions later. He has turned the PNC and APNU into paramilitary organisations, where he sits comfortably at the helm. This is a dangerous development for the two entities.

Kissoon’s demotion was a shock to many who believed that the coalition was starting to make a change in Region 10. It is a stab in the back.

Thanks DG, but this is not the one. I read it only last night in Guyana Times. I don't know how to get to the archives. This is a whole new story posted on 04/08/2014.

APNU MP Vanessa Kissoon was not informed of seating ‘rearrangements’ in House

APNU MP Vanessa Kissoon

A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) did not inform long-standing parliamentarian Vanessa Kissoon, ahead of Monday’s sitting of the National Assembly that she was demoted and her seating arrangements changed within the coalition group.

As a matter of fact, Kissoon confirmed being only informed upon her arrival at Parliament Buildings at noon. The news caught her off guard, it would appear.

Speaking with Guyana Times International on Tuesday evening from her home in Linden, Region 10, Kissoon explained that no reasons were proffered by APNU’s Chief Whip Amna Ally or its Chairman David Granger for the decision to make her a backbencher.

She said that she did not inquire either at that moment as it did not appear important to her as there were more pertinent matters to be addressed during Monday’s sitting which required her attention.

Kissoon, who was appointed a Member of Parliament back in 2006 on the People’s National Congress Reform One Guyana (PNCR1G) platform, said that she was in the National Assembly to serve the people of Guyana and represent those who elected her in Region 10.

Placement

She does not believe that her placement within the group, would affect the quality of her representation nor her ability to articulate the need for good governance and reforms.

“It matters not where I am seated. My voice will still be heard. I will still represent the Guyanese people. If you know me, I am here to serve and to sound my voice regardless of where I am. I am still a member of the Assembly and that’s important,” she said.

Asked whether she had any problems with the leadership of the APNU which could have triggered the decision, Kissoon responded in the negative, explaining that even if there were problems, she was “unaware”.

“That question should be directed to those people who rearranged the seating which would be the chief whip and the opposition leader,” she insisted throughout the interview.

Kissoon admitted, during the interview, that she was not certain about the protocols that would govern reassignments of seats in the APNU coalition. She opined that she was not aware either whether it was a decision that should have been communicated formally.

Additionally, she explained that since the decision to make her a backbencher, Guyanese have been calling to inquire about the situation and the circumstances surrounding the decision.

She denied having any knowledge whether her affiliations with other long-standing PNCR member Aubrey Norton would have triggered the decision by the top brass of APNU.

She also denied that she was ever disciplined or spoken to about her performance, which she opined, has been of a high standard in Parliament. A lot of women have also been expressing concern about the decision as well.

Meanwhile, Region 10 Chairman Sharma Solomon expressed similar sentiments on the matter. He praised the contributions of Kissoon, but stopped short of saying that he was disappointed over the move.

But while all of the other members of the APNU who were women appeared silent on the decision, People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) member of Parliament Priya Manickchand expressed concern over Kissoon’s placement and apparent demotion.

Vanessa has issues it Amna Ally and it was the latter who engineered her relegation with Granger's approval. The obnoxious looking Ally is Granger's chief bulldog

Thanks DG, I guess I didn't realize the date of the article. Amna Alli and Granger are two of a kind.

i guess you still read the mirror