- says he is not ‘competent’ enough, lacks debating skills & vibrancy, and doesn’t know to ‘heckle’

MEMBER of A Partnership for National Unity (APNU), Jaipaul Sharma yesterday resigned as a Member of Parliament.He has forwarded a letter to this effect to Speaker of the House, Raphael Trotman.

‘LOOKING LOST’: APNU’s Member of Parliament Jaipaul Sharma standing outside Public Buildings yesterday shortly after his resignation. (Adrian Narine photo)

Sharma told the media yesterday that his decision to resign was based on alleged controversial statements made by Education Minister Priya Manickchand on Tuesday night. But subsequently, at the start of Wednesday’s sitting, Minister Manickchand clarified that her ‘heckle’ in the National Assembly was not directed at Sharma.
The APNU member explained that his decision was taken after much consideration and is “a strategic move”.
“I will not be a political football,” he said, explaining that given the hints of snap elections, Manickchand’s comment, which was directed at his father, Chandra Narine Sharma, can be used to affect the standing of the APNU.
According to Sharma, his move is the “honourable” thing to do and APNU has many capable members who can fill his seat.

NO MORE CIRCUS
“I submit a resignation to the Speakers’ secretary at 11 am today (yesterday) stating that I resigned from the National Assembly. I would not be a part of that circus anymore. I already made my mind up…,” Sharma told reporters.
Asked why he choose to resign at such a critical point in time, Sharma said: “I resigned at a time where I gave the Opposition sufficient time to replace me with somebody competent, somebody more vibrant.”

Elaborating his point, Sharma admits that he lacks vibrancy and is not a competent debater.
Sharma said the Opposition needs “somebody more competent” than he is in terms of debating. “I am not competent…they need more vibrant people in the Assembly to teach the PPP a lesson. I am not a rowdy person. I don’t heckle nobody. They need to fight fire with fire,” Sharma said.
Meanwhile, Leader of the Opposition, David Granger, told reporters that his party APNU has (at that point in time) not received a copy of the resignation and as such would not comment on the matter.
However, he did say that talks will continue with Sharma to review his position.
Granger said, “Mr. Sharma is a valued member…we will continue to engage him.”
Addressing the controversial statements made by Manickchand, who despite her clarification made no apology, the Opposition Leader said the Speaker’s initial decision to bar the Education Minister from speaking was the right one.
Trotman has since lifted the ban on Manickchand.