Legal advice on NCMs against Harmon, Ministers by weekend – Clerk

Legal advice on the No Confidence Motions against Opposition Leader Joseph Harmon and two Government Ministers, which was sought from the Legal Affairs Ministry, is likely to be provided by the end of this week.
This was confirmed by Clerk of the National Assembly Sherlock Issacs, in a brief interview with this publication. According to Issacs, he followed up on the matter on Monday with Attorney General Anil Nandlall, SC.
“He said he was a bit busy, dealing with other official matters. And I should expect (a response) from him by the end of the week,” Issacs, who had requested the information on behalf of the Speaker, said.
Opposition Leader Joseph Harmon had filed No-Confidence Motions against Minister of Health Dr Frank Anthony and Home Affairs Minister Robeson Benn a few weeks back. In his motions, he had called for their resignations over what he claimed was their poor running of their Ministries.
His motion against Dr Anthony was seconded by former junior Health Minister Dr Karen Cummings, while his motion against Benn was seconded by shadow Home Affairs Minister Geeta Chandan-Edmond.
The A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change’s (APNU/AFC) contended that the management of the spread of COVID-19 has been woeful and confirmed COVID cases and deaths are “spiralling out of control.” In the case of Benn, their grievances included the setting up of the Regional Joint Support crime fighting team.
The Government side, through Prime Minister, Retired Brigadier Mark Phillips, filed a No-Confidence Motion against Harmon the very next day. According to the NCM prepared by Phillips, he is demanding Harmon’s immediate resignation from the position of Leader of the Opposition.
The NCM cites several grounds for Harmon’s removal, starting with his role in the APNU/AFC fight to stay in power after losing the March 2, 2020 General and Regional Elections.
Phillips also contended that the Opposition Leader “recklessly misinformed the public and the National Assembly” when it comes to the COVID-19 vaccine, its efficacy, and its acquisition by the Government.
This is a reference to Harmon’s campaign against the Government’s acquisition of Sputnik V vaccines last month, during which he called for a halt to the distribution of the vaccine. According to Phillips, Harmon’s actions endangered lives and increased vaccine hesitancy among an already vulnerable population.
“And Whereas the Leader of the Opposition opportunistically used the horrific murder of the Henry youth from West Coast Berbice as a means to incite ethnic disharmony. And Whereas the Leader of the Opposition has consistently denigrated the representative of the joiner parties, Mr Lenox Shuman, Deputy Speaker, as a legitimate member of the parliamentary opposition, even going so far as to deny him holding an opposition seat on any parliamentary committee. Be It Resolved that this House expresses its lack of confidence in the Leader of the Opposition and calls for his immediate resignation,” Phillips said in his motion.
In the wake of these No-Confidence Motions, Speaker of the National Assembly Manzoor Nadir had sought legal advice from the AG Chambers earlier this month. Based on this legal advice, Nadir will have the final say on whether the motions will be allowed on the floor of the National Assembly or not.
At present, the configuration of the National Assembly sees the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) with the parliamentary majority of 33 out of 65 seats. APNU/AFC, the main Opposition party, has 31 seats, while the Liberty and Justice Party (LJP), in collaboration with two other parties, holds one. (G3)