Clerk of the National Assembly, Sherlock Isaacs, told Guyana Standard that Aubrey Norton will continue to receive the salary and amenities as Opposition Leader until he is replaced.
“I continue to pay him. He is indeed still the opposition leader,” said Isaacs.
The clerk indicated that this can last up to three months after elections, as the president has that limit to call the first sitting of the new parliament.
Isaacs said that he will act upon President Dr. Irfaan Ali’s instruction to make preparations for the first sitting, but such a directive has not yet been given.
Either at the first sitting or the one immediately after, a meeting of opposition members will be convened. That meeting will be used as a forum to select the new opposition leader. If more than one leader is nominated, then a vote will be taken.
In the likely event that Azruddin Mohammed is the new leader of the opposition, Norton will then be made to hand over all items belonging to the Office of the Leader of the Opposition to him.
Isaacs said that an inventory is already being made.
