Latest update April 25th, 2024 12:59 AM
Apr 04, 2014 News
– Ban lifted on Manickchand
A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) Member of Parliament, Jaipaul Sharma, has tendered his resignation to Speaker of the National Assembly Raphael Trotman. Sharma told the media yesterday that his resignation comes after unsavoury comments made towards him by Education Minister Priya Manickchand during the ongoing Budget debates.
On Tuesday, last, Minister Manickchand during the presentation of APNU’s Volda Lawrence who spoke about statutory rape, heckled “ask APNU member Sharma”, which prompted the Speaker to chide the Minister and call on her to apologise. He said that until such time her comments would not be recognized in the House. This “ban” was lifted by the Speaker yesterday.
Sharma told reporters that his decision to resign was made after considerable thought. He said that he strongly believes that the PPP/C will use the matter to cause APNU to lose votes. He insisted that his move was not a publicity stunt.
“There’s a good possibility that the ruling PPP may call snap elections. I do not want to be used as a political football, thus my resignation. I believe I did the right thing, and I want to make it clear that it was solely because of Tuesday’s incident that I have resigned.”
Meanwhile, Opposition Leader David Granger who stood beside Sharma while he made the brief statement outside of Parliament said that he had not received any resignation. Granger said that since he “didn’t see anything” he would advise Sharma against it. According to Granger, the budget is very important and he (Sharma) is a valuable person within the party.
He added that Sharma currently sits on several important committees, noting that the matter will be discussed with him. Granger said that he too wasn’t personally satisfied with the statements made by Manickchand.
Meanwhile, APNU yesterday in a full statement said that it was “dissatisfied with the statement of the Minister of Education Ms. Priya Manickchand to Sharma”. According to APNU, the Minister “was heard to utter unsavoury and totally unacceptable remarks during the Budget debates on Tuesday 3rd April 2014.”
“Speaker of the National Assembly Mr. Raphael Trotman correctly called on her to apologise and the APNU feels that the Speaker’s Ruling was justified, that Ms. Manickchand would not be recognized during the 2014 Budget debates unless she apologized to Mr. Sharma” the Opposition coalition said yesterday. It contended that Sharma is a vital member of APNU’s team and the Partnership stands solidly in support of him.
Several persons including Kaieteur News Columnist Frederick Kissoon protested outside of the parliament buildings against the Minister’s comments and her refusal to issue an apology to Sharma.
“No apology no speech… Our children need good examples…Please step down.”
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