In accordance with the Constitution of Guyana, the President and Opposition Leader must meet and consult on several important constitutional matters including the appointment of potential candidates to various constitutional bodies such as the Police Service and Public Procurement Commissions.
However, since the PPP/C Administration took office back in 2020, no such meeting has been convened.
This is because the Opposition APNU+AFC party refused to recognise the governing party as legitimate.
The coalition was led previously by Joseph Harmon, but he resigned from this position in January and subsequently as a Member of Parliament in March.
His resignation paved the way for Norton to be sworn in as an MP and hours after his Parliamentary swearing-in he was elected as Leader of the Opposition.
When the new Opposition leader was asked whether he has plans to engage the President, he did not give a definitive answer.
“I cannot say whether I will be pushing for a meeting with the President but I can say to you that in keeping with the constitution I will honour all of my responsibilities.”
President Irfaan Ali however had indicated his willingness to engage the Opposition on one condition. That condition was that they must recognise the Government as legitimate.
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