More political machinations in National Assembly – as new APNU MP sworn in
Renita Lolita Williams, of Barima/Waini, Region One, took her place on the benches of the National Assembly, in the midst of the political machinations by her party, A Partnership for National Unity (APNU).
The newest Member of Parliament was sworn in just after an APNU Seat in the House was declared vacant following the resignation of its Region One Representative, Richard Allen, who collapsed in the House on Thursday last.
Speaker of the National Assembly, Raphael Trotman, informed the House that he had been informed by Calvin Benn, the Chief Elections Officer (ag) that the name of Williams was extracted from the list and has been duly declared by Benn as being the properly elected representative for her Region.
Newest Member of Parliament for A Partnership for National Unity and representing Region One (Barima/Waini), Renita Williams being sworn in by the Clerk of the National Assembly Sherlock Isaacs.
The swearing in of MP Williams returned the one-seat majority to the political opposition who immediately used it to overturn the Government’s schedule for the allocation of time and the order for the consideration of the 2013 Estimates and Expenditure in the Committee of Supply.
The Opposition succeeded in delaying the business of the House until Monday, April 15, when the consideration of the allocations will begin in the order and time span prescribed by the parliamentary opposition.
Nevertheless the new MP was accorded unprecedented protocol when no less than six members of the House presented welcome remarks.
Speaker Trotman stated that Region One remains well represented while Opposition Leader David Granger said the seat she has taken is a heavy burden and comes at an unusual and extraordinary time.
The fact that the new MP hails from Moruca was not lost on Foreign Affairs Minister Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett who listed other Amerindian MPs after Stephen Campbell who also railed from that district, including herself.
Prime Minister Samuel Hinds urged the new MP to look to the swift advances taking place in her region as she goes about her business in the assembly.
Alliance for Change (AFC) Leader Khemraj Ramjattan and APNUs Dr. George Norton were also among those who extended welcome to the new MP.
