U.S. House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi, the first woman to hold that powerful post, said today she will step down as the chamber’s Democratic leader as her allies prepared a passing of the torch to Representative Hakeem Jeffries, Reuters reported.
Pelosi, an 82-year-old liberal from California who has served two stints as speaker, said she will remain in Congress, representing San Francisco as she has done for 35 years. She made the announcement a day after Republicans secured a slim majority in the chamber following last week’s midterm elections, Reuters said.
Jeffries, of New York, would be the first Black lawmaker to lead one of the major parties’ caucuses in Congress. The current No. 2 House Democrat, Majority Leader Steny Hoyer, endorsed Jeffries for the party’s leadership post and said he also would not seek a leadership job in the next Congress, Reuters added.
In a statement, President Joe Biden called Pelosi “the most consequential speaker of the House of Representatives in our history.”
House Democrats are set to vote on their leaders on Nov. 30.
Jeffries, 52, would herald a new generation of leadership for the Democrats. Democratic Whip James Clyburn, 82, said he planned to stay in leadership but did not know what position he would fill.
If Jeffries is elected to replace her it would be a matter of interest for Georgetown as he has on several occasions criticised the current Guyana Government and raised concerns about racism but without providing evidence.
He also ignored an invitation to meet President Irfaan Ali during a recent visit by the latter to Washington.
Addressing Seventh-day Adventist members at a church in New York on an occasion called Guyana Day in June this year, Jeffries, who is Chairman of the Congressional Democratic Caucus and a rising star in the Democratic Party, described the Guyanese community in the US as hard working, entrepreneurial, family-oriented, community-centred and spiritually sound.
Jeffries, in the four-minute address, however said those living in Guyana are doing so “under very difficult circumstances with a Government who has not consistently treated everyone consistent with the principle of equal protection under the law”.
“And we are not going to tolerate racism here, we are not going to tolerate racism down in Guyana either and we going to continue to do everything necessary to get things moving in a fairer more equitable direction,” he said to loud applause.
Last year August the PPP/C Government had issued a statement saying that it was disappointed at comments made by the Congressman at what it said was a series of events in New York that were organized by the Guyanese Organizations Against Racism (GOAR).
The statement was referring to an event titled “Anti-PPP Racism March & Rally” that was held last year August in Brooklyn, New York.
“We note the numerous malicious and false claims made by several Members of Parliament, Regional representatives and other persons associated with the A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) political party. We wish to place on record that we reject all the statements delivered at today’s (August 15th 2021) march and rally. The APNU continues to propagate racial division and tension in Guyana and in the Diaspora through the dissemination of inaccurate information about the Government of Guyana and by extension, the People’s Progressive Party. These attacks are mere desperation by the APNU who, one year later, refuses to accept the results of the 2020 General Elections needless to say, after a lengthy court battle”, the statement had said.
The statement was in response to remarks by Jeffries and said it found them to be appalling.
“We are disappointed that the Congressman has allowed himself to be negatively influenced by individuals who are … instigating … division amongst our people.
“We call on the Congressman to desist from joining with these individuals in creating chaos in our communities at home and in the Diaspora. We invite the Congressman Jeffries to have discussions with us on matters of mutual interest”, the statement had further said.