Former APNU+AFC Parliamentarian Charrandass Persaud was yesterday welcomed as an observer at the 14th Sitting of the 12th Parliament hours after members of the Opposition berated him for daring to show his face.
“I would like to acknowledge the presence of former member Charrandass Persaud who should feel very protected in this building,” Speaker Manzoor Nadir announced amidst a debate on a motion to manage the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Speaker’s comment was a clear reference to a verbal altercation between Persaud and Opposition APNU+AFC Parliamentarians including Sherod Duncan and former Minister Annette Ferguson.
Persaud’s vote for a PPP/C motion of no-confidence on December 21, 2018 had brought down the APNU+AFC government.
During the confrontation which was observed by Stabroek News, Duncan told Persaud that he should be ashamed of himself.
“You sat there until it no longer suited your purpose. You didn’t care about anybody else. It was shameful. I am saying it was shameful and I don’t care who you go and talk to about what I say it will still be shameful,” Duncan said to his former party member as Persaud stood behind several members of the Guyana Police Force (GPC).
Reminded that his behaviour was unbecoming of his position as a Parliamentarian, Duncan maintained that he did not care how it look.
“They dismissing hundreds of people and don’t care that it look bad so I don’t care that this looks bad,” he declared.
It is not clear what prompted the altercation but Persaud had been observed at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre (ACCC) since before the commencement of the sitting.
Stabroek News observed him entering and exiting the washroom on the second level in close proximity to the room being used as a lounge for Opposition members. At that time, though several members were in the vicinity none approached or acknowledged their former colleague.
It was just after the lunch break as Persaud exited yet another washroom, this time on the ground floor that members voiced their objections to his presence.
In a blistering tirade, Ferguson declared that God would handle Persaud for his sins while Duncan refused to comply with requests that he walk away.
Persaud eventually left the building and returned with an armed guard who was told he would need to lodge his firearm before he entered the building.
Again it is not clear why Persaud was present at the sitting since COVID-19 protocols implemented by Parliament Office have not made provisions for the attendance of the General Public.
Despite this, Minister within the Office of the Prime Minister Kwame McCoy applied to the Speaker to offer Persaud a personal commitment to his personal safety as a former Member of Parliament visiting the National Assembly.
“I understand that Mr Charrandass Persaud was vehemently verbally assaulted, along with finger-pointing, at the resumption in the lobby of the ACCC, by MPs Ferguson, (Jermaine) Figueira and Duncan. The COVID-19 social distancing was breached and Mr Persaud had to retreat into the area occupied by the police to stave off the assault. It was said to be loud and very unseemly. Mr Speaker, beyond the perceived lack of alacrity by the police, I hope you can remind all members of the behaviour expected in the precincts of the building when the parliament is in session,” he said in his appeal.
Nadir duly offered the requested assurance which was later criticized by APNU+AFC as a sign of partiality.
“His comments today that Charrandass Persaud is welcomed in the National Assembly is cause for concern. Persaud is a member of the public just like any other citizen of Guyana. He is not entitled to special treatment nor does he enjoy any privileges in relation to the National Assembly. It is to be recalled that the courts declared Persaud’s membership of the Assembly an illegality, therefore the basis upon which the Nadir has laid out this red carpet welcome is unclear,” APNU+AFC said in a statement.
Persaud has been persona non grata to APNU+AFC since his affirmative vote on the No Confidence Motion in December 2018.
Initially he fled Guyana for Canada as he said his life was in danger. He returned to the country earlier this year but had kept a low profile until yesterday.