Leader of the Opposition, Aubrey Norton said today that there is no ‘handshaking policy’ in place for which his members must follow during encounters with President Dr. Irfaan Ali.
During the Opposition’s press conference on Thursday morning, Norton was asked if his decision to remove MP Jermaine Figueira, from his portfolio as Shadow Minister of Culture, Youth and Sport was a form of punishment for shaking President Ali’s hand last year.
“There was never a handshaking policy,” Norton responded.
The Opposition Leader stated that his decision not to engage Ali in a similar fashion during a 2022 event was one he made for himself. Norton said he never insisted that others in his camp must follow suit.
Norton said, “My symbolic non-shaking of the president’s hand was to signal that it is not business as usual and that I am not going to give you a photo op and that is what it is.”
“Now I have seen Roysdale Forde, I think I saw Amanza (Walton-Desir), I saw many MPs shook the president’s hand and not one of them can say I called them and said something about shaking the president’s hand,” Norton continued.
Norton added that since the 2022 event, he himself had shaken hands with President Ali.
The recent cabinet reshuffling announced by Norton on Wednesday, saw MP Figueira’s portfolio handed to Nima Flue-Bess.
Norton defended the reshuffling, explaining that it aimed to enhance the Opposition’s effectiveness and efficiency.
“One man told me this morning that it was only when he read the article in the news that he knew Figueira was shadow for culture, youth and sport,” Norton stated. He added that he thinks the reshuffling would provide the MPs with the opportunity to do more work in their respective regions.
Citing numerous unfinished sports grounds across the country, Norton said the Youth, Culture and Sport portfolio needed an activist oriented person, who is involved in sports.
Norton continued, “And that naturally led to Nima Flue-Bess and it is on that basis the decision was taken to put her in the area of youth, sport and culture.”
“It should be noted that she (Nima) is qualified in sport, she is involved in sports at school and has the contacts that will allow her to be effective as the Shadow Minister for Culture, Youth and Sport.”
Norton stressed that despite the reshuffling, Figueira still retains responsibilities for Region 10 and could still contribute to discussions on the ministry.
Notably, Figueira has since written a letter to the Central Executive Committee, urging a review of Norton’s decision to remove him. He argued that his demotion is unjust, given his dedicated efforts in various key roles within the party, including Central Executive member, Chairman of Region 10, Member of Parliament, and Chairman of the Public Accounts Committee (PAC).
