In a short and terse one paragraph letter of resignation, Opposition Member of Parliament, Jermaine Figueira tendered his resignation on Saturday from the People’s National Congress Reform and as an APNU+AFC Member of Parliament.

Figueira, who hails from Linden and was the Regional Representative for the APNU+AFC in the National Assembly, did not offer any reason behind his decision to PNC Reform and Opposition Leader, Aubrey Norton.

However, it was long suspected that he would have stepped away from the party as there appeared to be issues between him and the party’s leadership. While Figueira was the first MP to christen Norton as “the next President of Guyana”, just after Norton was elected Opposition Leader and took up his seat in the National Assembly, the relationship appeared to have become strained over the past two years.

That relationship soured even more when the party group in Linden under Figueira’s leadership was dissolved as it had not held elections and meetings in more than two years. Figueira was later removed as the Opposition MP shadowing the Culture, Youth and Sport Minister. However, he was kept on as the Chairman of the powerful Public Accounts Committee in the National Assembly.

In Linden, some party followers had accused him of distancing himself from the APNU+AFC and the PNC and aligning himself with the Government in the town. It was noted by one party insider that while he would be absent from party functions in the town, he would often be seen at visits to the community by the President and other leading officials of the Government.

Region 10 Chairman, Deron Adams in a statement to News Source on Saturday night thanked Mr. Figueira for his work in the party and as a a representative of the people of Linden and offered him best wishes as he moved forward.

At Friday’s APNU press conference, Mr. Norton said Figueira was invited to be part of the APNU+AFC’s Candidates list for the upcoming elections.

He said “I have always said that there is a place for Jermaine Figueira in the PNCR and the APNU…At least, up until now, he hasn’t signed, but once he is disposed to becoming a member of the List, he will be,” Norton told reporters.

Figueira has now moved on, possibly to another place in local politics.

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