Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs Anil Nandlall has said that the Speaker of the National Assembly is expected to speak “very shortly” on the matter surrounding the election of a Leader of the Opposition, with further clarity anticipated on Monday.
Speaking during his weekly Issues in the News programme, Nandlall noted that Monday, January 26, will be Budget Day, when the Minister of Finance presents the national budget. He added that attention will also turn to the Speaker’s constitutional responsibility regarding the opposition benches.
“The Speaker of the National Assembly, whose responsibility it is to convene a meeting of non-government parliamentarians for the election of a Leader of the Opposition, will be speaking very shortly on that matter, and you will be informed when the Leader of the Opposition when that election will be held,” Nandlall said.
However, the Attorney General used the opportunity to restate his strong objection to the prospect of an individual facing serious international legal issues holding the post.
“Let me make it plain… it is an indictment on our country, and it’s an indictment on the English-speaking Caribbean, for an OFAC-sanctioned person, and a fugitive offender… who is indicted by a jury in the United States of America on a number of international financial crimes… may be the Leader of the Opposition of our country,” he said.
Nandlall added, “That is an indictment on Guyana, it’s an indictment on our parliamentary system.”
