Dr. Rupert Roopnaraine of A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) says that the party would be willing to work with anyone that the AFC is proposing for the post of Speaker in a rotational arrangement, even if that person is Moses Nagamootoo.
This is in spite of the Leader of APNU David Granger making statements critical of Nagamootoo’s suitability for the post.
“I am not aware that APNU has ruled out anyone,” he said, when asked whether the party would be willing to work with Nagamootoo given Granger’s criticisms. Granger some days ago stated in a comment that the candidate for Speaker should not be given the post based on reward for work done during the campaign but based on the person’s qualification and suitability.
APNU had said at its Thursday press briefing that it is in favour of a rotational arrangement with the AFC for the post of Speaker. But APNU opted to go first, much to the chagrin of the AFC, which viewed this proposal as petty.
The AFC subsequently said it viewed APNU’s suggestion on the rotational arrangement of the Speaker as APNU’s endorsement of their candidate for Speaker, Nagamootoo.
APNU said also that should it and the AFC fail to find agreement on the candidates proposed thus far, a consensus candidate from outside the ranks of the parties could be considered.
APNU said that it will continue to discuss the issue of the speakership as part of a larger menu of issues where the two parties – APNU and AFC – can reach agreement. APNU said it has shown, and will continue to show, a willingness to support the AFC to attain the Chairmanship of important parliamentary committees and the Chairmanship of RDCs and of committees of the RDCs.
According to APNU Vice-Chairman Dr. Rupert Roopnaraine, there is nothing in the Constitution that precludes the two parties rotating the position of Speaker of the National Assembly.
In a comment to Stabroek News, Executive Member of the AFC Cathy Hughes said that APNU’s statement on the rotation of the speakership is an endorsement of their candidate Nagamootoo. But she said that the party would have to discuss the issue which APNU raised.
She noted it would be hard to imagine that APNU would be willing to be a part of a rotational arrangement with a candidate that did not have that party’s approval.
“We have been focusing on what we think is best for Guyana,” she said of the AFC and its engagement with APNU over the Speaker. She said that at the beginning of talks between the two parties, APNU did not have a problem with Nagamootoo as a potential Speaker.
Hughes took issue with APNU’s criticism of their candidate Nagamootoo. She said that if there are ongoing negotiations in good faith, one party should not decide who is not suitable. She called APNU’s stance disappointing.
