Opposition Leader and Leader of the WIN party, Azruddin Mohamed, has written to APNU Chairman and PNC Leader, Aubrey Norton inviting him to a meeting next Monday to discuss a number of issues, including the three Opposition nominated members of the Elections Commission, the scrutineers involved in the registration process at the Guyana Elections Commission, and the election of a Chairman and Vice Chairman of Region 10.

Mohamed has listed his party’s headquarters as the venue for the proposed meeting.

Mohamed’s letter to Norton followed Norton’s letter to him on Wednesday, blasting him over ignoring the APNU’s nominees for the Local Government Commission after the party was requested by the Opposition Leader to submit nominees. 

In that letter yesterday, Mr. Norton said he was surprised to learn through media reports that after submitting nominees, the Opposition Leader went ahead and submitted the names of two of his party representatives and the name of a representative of the Forward Guyana Movement for the three seats on the Local Government Commission.

In demanding a reconsideration of the nominees for the three seats, the APNU Chairman reminded that the APNU holds 12 seats in the National Assembly, compared with 16 seats held the WIN party and 1 seat held by the Forward Guyana Movement.

He said taking into account that the APNU currently has elected Councillors serving in various Local Government organs, “fairness and political proportionality should prevail in the selection of the nominees”.

Norton griped that it is “difficult to understand and “unacceptable” that a party with 12 Members of Parliament and an established local government presence could be completely excluded from the three nominees for the Local Government Commission, particularly after its recommendations were specifically sought.

In the response to Norton today, the Opposition Leader said he has always been open to

constructive engagement with all opposition parties in the national interest, noting their engagement in wake of the MV Barima tragedy and other issues of national importance.

Mohamed said in addition to discussing the Local Government Commission issue, he believes the meeting provides an important opportunity for the opposition parties to have a broader discussion

on matters affecting the integrity and functioning of the country’s democratic institutions including GECOM and the Regional Democratic Councils.

Related posts:

Norton wants Mohamed to reconsider nominees to Local Government Commission after APNU candidates ignored Norton blanks Mohamed’s invitation for consultation for new Opposition nominated GECOM Commissioners; -Says no vacancy exists GECOM Opposition nominated Commissioners and Mohamed to meet; Commissioners not open to discussing tenure at GECOM Norton hints at APNU participating in Local Government Elections; Meeting with GECOM being sought