Vice-President, Bharrat Jagdeo says Opposition Leader, Aubrey Norton cannot set President Dr Irfaan Ali’s agenda ahead of consultation between the duo on constitutional appointments and other matters.
Jagdeo’s comment is a direct response to Norton’s objection to Ali “arbitrarily” announcing when the meeting will take place. A week has already elapsed since Ali said he would meet with Norton within a fortnight.
Norton, during a press conference on April 21, said that while he is disposed to the meeting, “the President must recognise that both of us have things to do, and it has to be on a mutually agreed date and time. So, I don’t think the President can just – in two weeks, regardless of the Coalition agenda, just decide on when we will meet”.
Jagdeo said today that Ali is the President, and the Opposition Leader cannot set the Head of State’s agenda. He added that Norton must also come with solid points and not “anecdotal” evidence regarding allegations his party has levelled against the government.
Indeed, the A Partnership for National Unity + Alliance for Change (APNU+AFC), after its upsetting defeat at the five-month prolonged March 2020 General and Regional Elections, has been at the forefront claiming that the government is discriminating against Afro-Guyanese.
Norton has also claimed that the government is involved in a ploy to register Venezuelan immigrants to “pad” the voters’ list to ensure the regime’s re-election.
Jagdeo said too that Norton when he meets with Ali must present facts.
“Mr. Norton is not going to get away with the anecdotal gyaff; the anecdotal manner in which he raises issues publicly in a serious engagement with the president…He will have to come with information,” the VP said.
Norton and Ali’s engagement is constitutionally required to revive several defunct service commissions, the appointment of a substantive Police Commissioner, and the confirmation of top judicial posts currently being manned by acting appointees.
