By Kurt Campbell
[www.inewsguyana.com] – Longstanding People’s National Congress Reform (PNC/R) Member Dr. Karen Cummings has been extracted from the list of candidates vying for the vacant seat in the National Assembly following the resignation of Deputy Speaker and Shadow Foreign Affairs Minister Deborah Backer.
This was confirmed by Opposition Chief Whip Amna Ali. She told iNews that Dr. Cummings will not be holding any Ministerial Portfolio and will be sworn in at Monday’s Sitting (February 10).
Meanwhile, Leader of the Opposition David Granger and APNU’s Africo Selman will be handling the Foreign Affairs Portfolio. Who will be the next Deputy Speaker still unknown at this point.
Backer resigned after a prolonged illness which had caused her to miss several sittings of the House. Following her resignation, the internal battle to replace her had gotten intense with Dr. Cummings and Aubrey Norton apparently leading the race. Others in the APNU had seemed to favour Anthony Vieira.
It was said that the Carl Greenidge faction favours Aubrey Norton who is considered more radical, while the Granger faction prefers Dr. Cummings.
