The Chief Election Officer Vishnu Persaud has officially written to the Speaker of the National Assembly Manzoor Nadir informing him that the Elections Commission has extracted the names of PNC Leader, Aubrey Norton, and Former Party Chairperson Volda Lawrence to be members of Parliament.

The move comes one day after Representative of the List of Candidates, Mr. David Granger submitted the two names to the Chief Elections Officer to be extracted following consultations between the APNU +AFC.

“In this regard, please be informed that the names of Mr. Aubrey Norton and Ms. Volda Lawrence have been extracted from the said List by the Representative to fill the vacancies. Accordingly, Mr. Aubrey Norton and Ms. Volda Lawrence are duly declared Members of the National Assembly from the date hereof,” the CEO said in his letter to the Speaker.

The Chairman of the Guyana Elections Commission has also been requested to issue Certificates of Election in accordance with the provisions of the Representation of the People Act, Chapter 1:03, to Mr. Norton and Ms. Lawrence.

Last week, Speaker of the National Assembly, Manzoor Nadir triggered the process by advising Mr. Granger of the two vacant positions following the two resignations.

Although Mr. Harmon’s seat became vacant on March 15, the process to process to replace him only took effect when the resignation of Nicolette Henry took effect at the end of March.

The two new MPs will be sworn in at the next sitting of the National Assembly which is expected soon. 

Once the two become MPs, the Opposition Members will meet for the election of Aubrey Norton to the position of Opposition Leader.

The position of Opposition Leader is a constitutional one and the President is required by the Constitution to engage the Opposition Leader on a number of issues, including several appointments.  

The President had refused to engage with Mr. Harmon while he was Opposition Leader, declaring that he will only do so after Harmon publicly recognizes him as President. It is unclear whether he intends to hold that same position with Norton as Opposition Leader.

Related posts:

Granger asks GECOM to extract names of Aubrey Norton and Volda Lawrence for Parliament Norton and Lawrence to head to Parliament as new Opposition MPs APNU formally informs Granger of decision for Norton to take up seat in Parliament Granger writes Speaker on Henry’s resignation from National Assembly; Process for Norton’s entry set to begin