APNU+AFC Members of Parliament (MPs) yesterday asked for more time to deliberate on the appointment of a new Leader of the Opposition following Joseph Harmon’s resignation.
“The Chief Whip of the APNU+AFC has said that they will indicate to me at a later time their availability for me to convene a meeting for the election of a new Opposition Leader,” Speaker of the National Assembly Manzoor Nadir informed at the beginning of yesterday’s sitting, where the 2022 National Budget was presented.
Harmon’s resignation came after growing calls for him to demit office and to make way for the recently-elected PNCR Leader Aubrey Norton.
Harmon had been defeated last December in the contest for the post of PNCR Leader but despite this he had clung to the post of Leader of the Opposition. The PNCR – the major component of APNU – had met and said that Norton should become the new Leader of the Opposition.
Norton is still not a Parliamentarian and that will depend on the Representative of the List for the APNU+AFC coalition, former president David Granger. As Representative of the List he is responsible for both recalling and submitting APNU+AFC MPs though political observers say his role is mainly ceremonial and it is the leadership of APNU+AFC that should make that decision.
It is unclear what lies ahead for Harmon’s political career, although it should be noted that while he resigned from the post of Leader of the Opposition he did not resign as an MP. He had risen to prominence under the former APNU+AFC administration as Minister of State and then later as Director General of the Ministry of the Presidency after giving up his US citizenship so as to continue to serve in the Parliament. Following the March 2020 general elections, where all members resigned their posts, former President David Granger appointed him as Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the National COVID-19 Task Force.
Attempts by this newspaper to contact Harmon yesterday proved futile as calls to his mobile phones went unanswered.
The APNU+AFC and the PNCR issued statements shortly after the announcement was made in the House of Harmon’s resignation.
“Today, January 26, 2022, Members of Parliament representing the APNU+AFC were informed of the resignation of the Hon. Joseph F. Harmon, MP, as Leader of the Opposition. While we are all disappointed in this development, we appreciate that recent developments within the PNCR and APNU have determined that changes are inevitable,” a statement from the APNU+AFC said.
“We take the opportunity to thank Mr. Harmon for his sterling contribution thus far. In the circumstances, the Members of Parliament will urgently consult with the leadership of their respective parties so that the way forward, and a suitable candidate to assume the important office of Leader of the Opposition can be identified. We are advised that the temporary absence of a Leader of the Opposition is no hindrance to the proceedings of the National Assembly ensuing and we will continue to function accordingly,” it added.
For the PNCR’s part, its statement said that only yesterday the party was informed of Harmon’s actions and the party thanked him for his service.
As it pertains to filling the position of Leader of the Opposition, the PNCR said that it will “address the issue of filling the position” with its coalition partners “in the shortest possible time”.
‘Minding my business’
Liberty and Justice Party parliamentarian Lenox Shuman, the sole other opposition parliamentarian, said he will abstain from the vote on a new Leader of the Opposition as he does not want to be drawn into another party’s internal issues and does not see anyone he would nominate among the APNU+AFC representatives. He said that he will be “drinking water and minding my business.”
“It is my understanding that there are some internal political issues in the APNU+AFC in their ideas of leadership and I think it best not to get engaged in their issues. I am also cautious to not give legitimacy nor credence to their unparliamentary conduct in this House,” he told this newspaper when contacted.
“Further, I have not seen the kind of leadership present in their coalition that is deserving of my endorsement,” he added.
