Harmon gives Speaker deadline to remedy “ineligible” parliamentary secretaries situation

(MP Vickash Ramkissoon getting his jab at Public Buildings recently)

From all indications, Members of Parliament, Vickash Ramkissoon and Sarah Browne would be present at Thursday’s sitting of the National Assembly despite a court ruling that deemed them ineligible to sit in the House.

The government is yet to recall the two members and Attorney General Anil Nandlall has moved to appeal the ruling of Chief Justice Roxane George on this issue.

Opposition Chief Whip Christopher Jones had challenged whether the appointment of Ramkissoon and Browne as Parliamentary Secretaries was lawful and sought that they be removed from the National Assembly.

Chief Justice George in her ruling had directed Speaker of the National Assembly Manzoor Nadir to prevent both Ramkissoon and Browne from sitting in the National Assembly.

On Wednesday, Leader of the Opposition Joseph Harmon in a letter to Speaker Nadir said he saw no correspondence from the Speaker that the Judge’s ruling was “obeyed.”

“May I remind you, that her ruling was that these two persons were illegally appointed and are not eligible to serve as Members of Parliament,” Harmon said in the letter.

“Failure to act in accordance with the ruling of the court would also be afoul of the Standing Orders of the National Assembly and the Constitution of Guyana,” the letter reads.

The Leader of the Opposition said he is inviting the Speaker to “remedy” the situation and make public the actions he has taken before tomorrow’s sitting.