Four of Government’s senior officials, Carl Greenidge, Joseph Harmon, Dr. Rupert Roopnaraine and Dominic Gaskin, resigned from Parliament in order to preserve their dual citizenship status. But their seat in the House is not all they will lose as a consequence.
Speaking with the Guyana Standard, Attorney-at-Law, Charles Ramson clarified that the officials will also have to give up their Ministerial status. It, therefore, means that the Government will have to find suitable replacements for the posts of Minister of Foreign Affairs, Minister of State, Business Minister and Minister of Public Service.
Ramson said that this is supported in the Constitution, specifically at Article 183 which says, “The office of a Minister shall become vacant if the holder of the office–(a) ceases to be a member of the Assembly for any cause other than the dissolution of Parliament…”
The lawyer noted too that Greenidge, Harmon, Dr. Roopnarine and Gaskin will also lose their place in Cabinet.
Further to this, Ramson said that the decision of the said government officials to resign from Parliament so as to maintain a hold on their foreign passports sends a most unpatriotic message to all who were under the impression that they had the nation’s best interests at heart and were dedicated to a life of service here.
Ramson said, “They have taken an unpatriotic position. When it comes down to where they would like to swear allegiance to only, they decide to resign to preserve their status. Their true colours have been revealed.”
The lawyer said that the position is one which reeks of disloyalty.
