April 7, 2022
After months of speculation and intrigue in APNU+AFC, Aubrey Norton and Volda Lawrence are to be sworn in as MPs on Wednesday and this will pave the way for the former to be elected as Opposition Leader.
Parliament Office last evening stated that Speaker of the National Assembly, Manzoor Nadir was yesterday notified by Chief Election Officer (CEO), Vishnu Persaud that the names of Norton and Lawrence were extracted from the APNU+AFC list to fill the two vacancies that currently exist following the resignations of former Opposition Leader Joseph Harmon and Nicolette Henry.
“There will be a Sitting of the National Assembly on Wednesday, April 13, 2022, where Mr Aubrey Norton and Ms Volda Lawrence are expected to make and subscribe, before the National Assembly, the Oath of Office, which shall be administered by the Clerk.
The move comes one day after Representative of the APNU+AFC’s List of Candidates, former President David Granger wrote to the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) advising that Norton and Lawrence were designated as replacements for Harmon and Henry.
Norton’s and Lawrence’s names were extracted following consultations between the APNU Coalition and the Alliance For Change.
In an April 04, 2022 letter to the Chief Election Officer, Granger informed of the selections. He said that he received two letters from Speaker of the National Assembly at 2 pm on March 31 informing him of the vacant seats.
“I received a letter, signed by Aubrey C Norton, Chairman of the APNU and Khemraj Ramjattan, Leader of the AFC, dated 31st March 2022 at 14:00 hours on Monday 4th April 2022 informing me, as Representative of the APNU+AFC List, as follows ‘In the circumstance, the APNU has resolved, with the knowledge of its partner, the Alliance For Change, that the replacements are Mr Aubrey C Norton and Ms Volda Ann Lawrence both of whom were listed by the APNU+AFC as candidates in the 2020 submission of the joint list.
“In this regard, as required by Section 99(A) of the Representation of the People Act Cap1:03, I inform you that Mr Aubrey C Norton and Ms Volda Ann Lawrence of the APNU+AFC have been extracted from the List of Candidates to fill these vacancies. I would be grateful for the necessary instruments to be issued, accordingly,” the letter stated.
Yesterday, during a brief telephone interview, CEO Persaud told Stabroek News that he has since acknowledged receipt of Granger’s letter and followed the outlined steps.
“I have since written to the Representative of the List acknowledging receipt of his letter and also wrote to the Speaker informing him of the names that were extracted by the Representative,” Persaud said.
He added that the next step in the process lies with the National Assembly now that GECOM has completed its part.
In his letter, Persaud said, “…please be inform-ed that the names of Mr Aubrey Norton and Ms Volda Lawrence have been extracted from the said List by the Representative to fill the vacancies.”
“…Mr Aubrey Norton and Ms Volda Lawrence are duly declared Members of the National Assembly from the date hereof,” he added.
GECOM Chair retired Justice Claudette Singh has also been asked to issue Certificates of Election to Norton and Lawrence in accordance with the Representation of the People Act.
When contacted, Clerk of the National Assembly Sherlock Isaacs told this newspaper that he received the letter from the CEO and has since put systems in place to give effect to the appointment.
“I received the letter from GECOM informing that the names of Aubrey Norton and Volda Lawrence were extracted. They will be sworn in at the first sitting [of the National Assembly]. I have since notified them of their extraction,” he said.
When Norton takes to the House, he is expected to be elected as Opposition Leader while Lawrence will assume the portfolio of shadow minister with responsibility for finance effectively replacing AFC’s Juretha Fernandes who currently shoulders that responsibility.
The extraction of Lawrence has also signalled her return to prominent public life after taking a step back last year citing personal reasons when she decided not to contest for the leadership of the PNCR. The party had since last month begun discussions to persuade Lawrence to accept its decision and rescind her decision to step away from leadership roles.
Norton was elected PNCR Leader in December last year and it had been the view in that party – the major component of A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) – that he should be immediately added to the parliamentary line-up and replace Harmon as Opposition Leader. However, there was no movement in this direction until Henry tendered her resignation followed by Harmon. This then set the process in train and APNU advised Granger of the replacements. Harmon had been steered into the role of Opposition Leader by Granger and it was thought that Granger was disinclined to have him replaced by Norton. Under severe pressure from PNCR supporters, Harmon eventually resigned as Opposition Leader and later as an MP paving the way for adjustments to the line-up. There had been speculation about what Granger would do about filling the vacancies.
The addition of Norton and Lawrence is seen as bolstering the APNU+AFC complement in parliament . Once Norton is elected Opposition Leader, it is expected that the required constitutional consultations will begin with President Irfaan Ali.