APNU’s Terrence Campbell says legally embattled Mohamed should follow Westminster conventions but will work with him

Leader of A Partnership for National Unity’s (APNU) 12-member parliamentary team, Dr Terrence Campbell says Guyana’s incoming Opposition Leader Azruddin Mohamed should follow the Westminster convention in light of his legal troubles but will work with him if he is elected.

Dr Campbell was specifically asked about APNU’s view on whether Mr Mohamed, whose We Invest in Nationhood (WIN) won 16 seats at the September 1 general and regional elections, would have any implications on Guyana’s profile if he becomes the opposition leader in light of the fact that he has been indicted by a United States (U.S.) grand jury on 11 counts of wire fraud and money laundering.

Mr Mohamed is currently challenging an extradition request before a city magistrate.

“I believe that Mr Mohamed, the opposition and everyone could be guided by those conventions if they are to be properly examined,” Dr Campbell told Demerara Waves Online News ahead of Monday’s scheduled sitting of the National Assembly for the first time since the September 1 general and regional elections. He declined to elaborate, opting only to say “everyone should study the conventions”.

The Westminster convention to which he alluded expects politicians to resign if they are accused or charged with an offence.

Under intense public pressure, then local government minister Nigel Dharamlall had resigned from parliament and as a minister amid police investigations into an alleged sexual offence involving a teenage girl.

Then home affairs minister Ronald Gajraj had also resigned to make way for a commission of inquiry into whether he had employed death squads to go after heavily armed gangs that had been killing, kidnapping and robbing persons.

Pressed on whether he supports Mr Mohamed becoming the opposition leader, Dr Campbell reiterated that, “I believe the Westminster conventions provide some guidance on how to handle these types of situations,” he said.

Asked whether Mr Mohamed should step aside, Dr Campbell later said “If Mr Mohamed is appointed Leader of the Opposition, the APNU will work along with Mr Mohamed in the national interest, on matters of national interest,” he said.

Asked if APNU had discussed nominating one of its MPs for the position of opposition leader or would vote for Mr Mohamed or abstain, he said based on the votes from the opposition, in all likelihood, the opposition leader will come from the party that controls a majority of members of the opposition. “We have not discussed that and the understanding or the belief is that the leader of the opposition will come from the party with the biggest membership which would be the WIN party,” he said.

APNU had last month called on Mr Mohamed to address the allegations of gold smuggling and tax evasion which have led to him and his father being sanctioned by the United States. He has also been charged by the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) with tax evasion and making a false declaration.

But would APNU expect to be consulted on matters such as the composition of the Guyana Elections Commission and substantive appointments of the Chancellor and Chief Justice or left to WIN which occupies the majority of opposition seats? The APNU parliamentary leader said he had already indicated that his party would expect to be consulted…in relation to appointments that have to be made and especially in situations where the appointments are more than one, that we expect to have a say and a share in those appointments,” he said.

Dr Campbell said, however the WIN representative suggested to him that that would not happen. He said that position would not be accepted and “I would take it to the voting public.”

Looking ahead, Mr Campbell said with APNU and WIN set to take up their parliamentary seats, it is an opportunity for the parties to “reset” their relationship for “maximum effectiveness” against the 36-seat People’s Progressive Party Civic in the 65-seat National Assembly. “I’ve been consistent in my calls for us to collaborate and cooperate,” he also said.