APNU satisfied with Volda Lawrence’s explanation on her abstention

By Kurt Campbell

APNU Member and Parliamentarian, Volda Lawrence.

[www.inewsguyana.com] – Leader of the main opposition party – A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) David Granger says he is satisfied and the party by extension with Volda Lawrence’s explanation on why she did not vote along with her party at the December 12 sitting of the House.

Lawrence had from the inception said she was ill and maintained same. At first Granger seem not to buy the explanation.

He had said that his Party will be thoroughly investigating what appears to be a ‘blow off’ at the last minute by Lawrence. The Opposition Leader told reporters that there were plans to vote along specified lines which he said were long standing and based on principles.

Lawrence at the December 12 sitting of the National Assembly stunned the House by refusing to bite with her party against allocations for several sectors.

When the vote was taken, all APNU MPs voted ‘no’ while Lawrence remained quiet (abstained).

Earlier when the vote was being taken for resources for the Specialty Hospital, Lawrence left the National Assembly in haste. Her departure saw both APNU and AFC losing the vote to deny the specialty hospital funds.

However, prior to this, Lawrence had voted with her party to refuse funding to the National Communications Network (NCN) and the Government Information Agency (GINA) both of whose allocations were reduced to $1 by the opposition during the 2013 consideration of estimates.

It was rumored that the ruling Peoples Progressive Party or members therein had offered Lawrence special considerations to break rank with her Party.

Subsequently PPP General Secretary Clement Rohee rejected such rumors.