– Harmon promises sharp, robust opposition
Maintaining that the People’s Progressive Party Civic (PPP/C), has attained power through fraudulent means, Presumptive Opposition Leader, Joseph Harmon, said that the 31 seat Opposition, will be one of service to the Guyanese people and the best way to serve, is by making life very difficult for the government.
Describing their position in Opposition as only temporary, Harmon said on a recent talk show with political activist Rickford Burke that he has already held meetings with his selected Members of Parliament and has explained to them the significant role they will be playing, though in the Opposition. “I have already spoken to my MPs and told them not to get comfortable in the opposition benches because that is a temporary position they will be occupying, so we are not going to get too comfortable in there and we are going to make life very difficult for the people on the other side because we are a very busy opposition, once we are in the opposition, you will know, from the motions we will lay, from the questions with notice, from the questions without notice and all of the actions we will take in the National Assembly will be from day one,” Harmon affirmed.
The MP’s were chosen by leader of the PNCR, Brigadier David Granger and represents younger and more vibrant blood. Some of these are: Senior Counsel Roysdale Forde, Attorney, Geeta Chandan-Edmond, Amanza Walton, Ganesh Mahipaul, Ronald Cox, Jermaine Figueira and Devin Sears.
Harmon said that each MP needs to see him/her self as a leader and as a representative of approximately 7000 electors. He said that all Guyanese will be represented since MPs hail from nine of the 10 geographical regions in Guyana. “So every region in this country will be represented in the National Assembly and I expect that those Members of Parliament will give that quality of service and quality of leadership to the people,” he said.
Code of service
The Presumptive Opposition Leader said that he has already circulated a Code of Service to his MPs as a guide for their role, many of whom will be playing that role for the first time.
Even before the convening of the first sitting, Harmon said that he is already acting proactively, with the aim of keeping the PPP Government accountable and in the eyes and ears of the international community.
Given recent developments of the Guyana Police Force allegedly acting unconstitutionally and allegedly taking on a political role, Harmon said that he has already written several local and international bodies, expressing these grievances, as well as the filing of legal proceedings surrounding the arrest of former Director of Sports Christopher Jones. Proceedings will also be filed relative to the arrest of Region Four Returning Officer, Clairmont Mingo, who still remains in police custody.
Rogue cops to be called out
Harmon said that the Opposition will not sit idly by and accept the actions of rogue cops under political direction. These ranks will be identified and called out for their actions at the highest level. “A police officer can no longer hide behind his uniform and say these are police ranks because what we are going to do is expose them directly and personally so that the world will see and know who they are and where they live.”
These matters he said, which are targeting a particular group of Guyanese will be internationalised forthwith. “So everywhere the police step out of line we are going to take action, legal action and we will publicise what it is they are doing.”
The former Minister of State said it is regrettable that the PPP Government is dismantling all evidence of good governance that was instituted under the coalition government but any opposition under his lead will not allow this to happen.
