By Kurt Campbell
[www.inewsguyana.com] – Former Parliamentarian and longstanding People’s National Congress Reform (PNC/R) Member Ernest Elliot moments ago took the oath of the National Assembly, administered by the Clerk Sherlock Isaacs.
Elliot is the newest APNU MP and replaces Jaipaul Sharma, who resigned recently following a heckling incident.
Elliot, who served in the Ninth Parliament, will represent Region Four in the 10th Parliament.
Speaker of the House, Raphael Trotman welcomed Elliott back to the Assembly and stated that he is sure his participation will be fruitful, adding that he is no novice.
Elliot’s name was withdrawn from the Region Four list of candidates that was submitted to the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) during the 2011 elections.
Sharma was at the time a representative of the same region. 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 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.
