By Fareeza Haniff
[www.inewsguyana.com] – A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) has confirmed the appointment of Ernest Elliot as the replacement for Jaipaul Sharma in the National Assembly.
This was confirmed by the Party’s Chief Whip, Amna Ally when contacted by iNews (www.inewsguyana.com) on Monday, April 07.
Ally told this online news service that the paper work is being processed in order to have Elliot sworn in as soon as possible.
Elliot is also a former Parliamentarian. iNews (www.inewsguyana.com) understands that most members from within the APNU coalition are not happy with Elliot’s return to the House, as the PNC/R members were advocating for Aubrey Norton to take the spot.
Sharma represented the JFAP party in the House. He along with Geoffrey Sankies were identified as the as the party’s representatives in 2011.
Sharma resigned following a heckling incident in the House on Tuesday, April 01.
Education Minister Priya Manickchand had heckled “ask the APNU member Sharma” while MP Volda Lawrence was addressing the issue of rape in the society during her very emotive presentation.
Manickchand refused to issue an apology. Sharma told reporters it was a decision he took after considering the matter carefully and believes the PPP will use the matter to cause the APNU to lose votes.
“I don’t want to be the individual to cause the APNU to lose votes,” Sharma said as he noted that there was a possibility that the ruling PPP may call snap elections, adding that “I don’t want to be a political football.”
He said he believes he did the right thing and made it clear that it was solely because of Tuesday’s incident that he has resigned.
Notwithstanding the refusal to issue an apology, Speaker of the National Assembly, Raphael Trotman has lifted the ban he placed on Manickchand to participate in the budget debates 2014.
