…Nicolette Henry bids farewell to the National Assembly
By Svetlana Marshall
Former Minister of Education, Dr. Nicolette Henry bade farewell to the National Assembly on Wednesday as an A Partnership for National Unity + Alliance For Change (APNU+AFC) Member of Parliament as she stepped down to pave way for the Leader of the People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR), Aubrey Norton.
With Dr. Henry confirming her resignation from the Parliament of Guyana, Norton is expected to be sworn in soon as a Member of Parliament and ultimately, the Leader of the Opposition.
In her farewell speech which followed her presentation on the 2022 National Budget, Dr. Henry expressed gratitude to former President of Guyana, David Granger; former Leader of the Opposition; Joseph Harmon; her colleagues, family and friends, who reposed confidence in her and offered much needed support.
The Speaker, Manzoor Narine, on behalf of the National Assembly, thanked Dr. Henry for her contribution to the Parliament of Guyana.
In a brief interview with Village Voice News following her farewell speech, Dr. Henry said she has made her mark by contributing to the development of Guyana, in particular, the country’s Education and Health sectors.
“I have made my contribution to this country,” she told this publication.
She disclosed too that her services are currently being utilised by an international agency, and she intends to focus on her new appointment, “given that there was a need that had to be satisfied.”
While she has stepped down as a Member of Parliament, Dr. Henry said she remains a Member of the APNU+AFC and the PNCR. “Nothing has changed,” she assured.
Heeding to public pressure, APNU+AFC Member of Parliament, Joseph Harmon stepped down as Leader of the Opposition with immediate effect on Wednesday, January 26. The move stemmed from calls from the Central Executive Committee (CEC) of the PNCR – the largest political party in the APNU+AFC Coalition – calling for their Leader – Norton – to be elected Opposition Leader.
But while Harmon resigned as Opposition Leader, he remains a Member of Parliament. A PNCR Executive told Village Voice News that Harmon should have also resigned as a Parliamentarian to make way for Norton to take up one of the 31 seats the coalition holds in Parliament. But with ex-opposition leader, it meant someone else had to go.
During an intense meeting of the PNCR’s Central Executive Committee, it was decided that Norton would meet with the PNCR aligned Members of Parliament to convince one of them to resign.
It would appear that Dr. Henry, agreed to resign.
