Ex-Parliamentarian was chosen from regional list

Apr 07, 2014 News

…gets sworn in today

Ex-parliamentarian Ernest Elliot, who will be sworn in today to replace APNU member Jaipaul Sharma in the National Assembly was chosen from the Coalition’s regional list to fill the vacant seat on the opposing side of the House.

APNU’s newest member Ernest Elliot

Following Sharma’s resignation over a spat with Education Minister Priya Manickchand, the Justice for All party executive decided to tender his resignation leaving an empty seat which Elliot now comes to fill; but his appointment did not sit well with several party stakeholders, who voiced that a younger member of the team should have been exposed to parliamentary and representative politics.
Several influential members of APNU’s hierarchy had made a case for a seasoned politician like former PNC General Secretary Aubrey Norton to return to the House or for the nod to be given to younger activists like Shondel Hope or Ryan Belgrave
Kaieteur News was told, however, that Sharma’s replacement came with some limitations; in that the replacement member had to come from the regional list, hence Elliot’s appointment to represent Region Four.
Head of the Coalition, David Granger had told the media workers that Elliot’s appointment was not “arbitrary.” He explained that with matters such as Local Government Elections and reform among a list of important matters, much consideration had to be placed into the Region Four replacement; which is a positive one, the Leader said.
Executive member, Joseph Harmon also mentioned that the returning member was chosen from the same list from which Sharma was selected. It was explained that Sharma was drawn from the Geographical Constituency List of the APNU, and his replacement had to come from that same list of which Elliot was fingered as the most suited for the position at this time.
Elliot is however returning to the House under Granger’s leadership. He previously served under the People’s National Congress (PNC), but along with several others, he was not chosen for another representation.
Sharma has claimed however that his resignation is a sacrifice to ensure that the criminal matter involving his father does not hamper the work of the APNU. During last week’s budget debates, Education Minister Manickchand heckled across the House floor making insinuations about Sharma’s father; CN Sharma, while another APNU member was on the floor delivering a presentation on rape.
CN Sharma has current rape cases pending in the High Court. Manickchand’s heckle came with much rejection from the opposing side of the House with House Speaker Raphael Trotman demanding an apology from the Minister, while warning that her right to speak during the budget debate would be taken away.
The Minister refused to apologise. Sharma tendered his resignation on the same day the House Speaker recalled his warning saying that the heckling was not made to the younger Sharma and the same day Manickchand delivered her presentation. She was however silenced when opposition members banged their desks, protesting for an apology on Sharma’s behalf. The debate on that day, ended prematurely.