- says her behavior has consequences and implications for all parties
During an electoral cycle, it is not unusual for politicians to switch lanes, moving from the opposition’s camp to the government’s side and vice versa. But when it comes to parliamentarians, switching is not such a straightforward issue.
According to economist and former Vice President, Carl Greenidge, a Member of Parliament (MP) represents a party and under the proportional representation system, switching was never intended to enable the MP elected on one party’s slate to simply hand the parliamentary seat to another political party. Yet, Greenidge said that on June 2, this is precisely what APNU+AFC Parliamentarian Geeta Chandan-Edmond did when she failed to resign her seat before endorsing the PPP/C administration for a second term.
Greenidge, one of Guyana’s longest serving politicians, told this news agency that he has never witnessed such a move from the floor of the House.
“What makes this move especially unusual and aggravating is her seniority in the administration of the PNCR-led A Partnership for National Unity (APNU)…,” said the economist.
Underscoring that Chandan-Edmond as an MP was within her right to to cross the floor, Greenidge said her behaviour posed a threat to the voters’ belief in the system. Greenidge said all persons in Parliament have been chosen from a list which constitutes each party’s slate. This, he said is the framework within which the parties offer themselves to the electorate.
He stressed that the slate underscores the fact that no one person, except perhaps the Presidential Candidates, enters the House on their own strength. They are therefore holding the seat in Parliament to represent the interest and programme of the party, and most importantly, the voters who cast their ballots for that party.
If a parliamentarian decides that he or she can no longer support their party’s philosophy, Greenidge said the ethical thing to do would be to resign and move onto the next chapter of one’s career. In so doing, Greenidge said the party has the opportunity to choose the next representative on the party’s slate who is willing to champion the party’s cause. Otherwise, Greenidge warned, individuals can be planted by other parties to frustrate the will of the electorate.
“This behaviour has consequences and implications for all parties… The PPP would be foolish to assume that they are in office forever, and therefore, it would be unwise to encourage behaviour and practices that undermine the system that is in existence,” expressed the former Vice President.
He reiterated that no one is asking Chandan-Edmond to leave the party. He stressed however that she has an ethical responsibility to vacate the seat. “If you do not, the party is within its rights to unceremoniously expel you for the breach of trust, however short the remaining life of the House. There is a principle involved and to allow it to be breached with impunity has lessons for others in the future,” said Greenidge.
Guyana Standard also engaged Opposition Leader, Aubrey Norton on Monday and he confirmed that Chandan-Edmond has not resigned. He also alluded that it may be pointless at this stage to remove her, especially when parliament is expected to be dissolved soon to pave the way for elections on September 1.
