Harmon blasts Jagdeo’s attempt to set conditions for consultations

During an interview last week, Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo expressed an unwillingness of the Government to consult with the Opposition, claiming that the Opposition sees the Government as illegitimate and has been protesting the election.

Harmon blasts Jagdeo’s attempt to set conditions for consultations

Opposition Leader Joe Harmon today said the Opposition is ready and willing to consult with the Government on national issues and issues of importance. He said the Vice President cannot decide what the Opposition must first do before such consultations take place.

During an interview last week, Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo expressed an unwillingness of the Government to consult with the Opposition, claiming that the Opposition sees the Government as illegitimate and has been protesting the election.

But the Opposition Leader reminded that back in 2015 just after the APNU+AFC assumed power, Jagdeo led a number of protests in front of the Elections Commission declaring that the elections were fraudulent and the government was illegal.

Harmon said despite that position by the PPP, the APNU+AFC government held almost regular consultations with the then Opposition.

“He cannot use the fact that we are convinced that there has been electoral fraud. When we came into office in 2015, they were parading up and down High Street in front of the Elections Commission with banners and placards saying cheated but not defeated, and that did not prevent us from engaging with the PPP”, Mr. Harmon said.

The Opposition Leader also lashed out at the Vice President over his comments about some senior members of the coalition not being selected to serve in the National Assembly. Harmon said the Vice President ought not involve himself in the internal affairs of the APNU+AFC.

Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo

“It is cheeky of him to determine our own internal affairs when his house has never been in order”, Harmon said.

He also dismissed suggestions that a withdrawal of the election petition cases could open the gates for the government to be more willing to consult.

Mr. Harmon said the APNU+AFC is still the representative of more than 217,000 persons and all of those persons who voted for the coalition are also supportive of the election petitions. He said there is no way that such a thought would even be entertained.

Harmon said the Opposition will continue to look out for all Guyanese and he said the Vice President and the rest of the PPP administration must realise that the Opposition Leader’s office is a constitutional one.

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