Leader of the Opposition Aubrey Norton said that Shadow Minister of Public Works David Patterson is still authorised to speak on the oil and gas sector, though this new role has been given to People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR) Chairperson Shurwayne Holder.
The seasoned politician relayed this information to the Sunday Stabroek following his recent shadow Cabinet reshuffle ahead of tomorrow’s reading of the 2024 National Budget.
Patterson previously served as Shadow Minister of Natural Resources.
The Alliance for Change (AFC) member, at his party’s press conference on Friday, January 12, at the Centre for Change in Kitty, Georgetown said that he and other parliamentarians were issued a formal list by Norton which stated their portfolios.
According to Patterson, the list read “David Patterson Shadow Minister with responsibility for Public Works/Oil and Gas”.
AFC Leader Khemraj Ramjattan and Chairperson Catherine Hughes said this was confirmed by Norton.
However, Norton’s reshuffling did not sit well with PNCR member Jermaine Figueira who expressed disenchantment at how this was done.
Figueira, who formerly served as shadow Minister of Culture, Youth and Sport and has been replaced by Nima Flue-Bess, expressed astonishment at the decision, stating that he was not previously informed about it.
The MP said that this put him in a difficult position since he had been preparing to present at the upcoming budget debate as he has been doing for the past four debates. “At least you could’ve given me a heads up,” he lamented, adding that a one-on-one conversation with Norton before the announcement would have been good.
Nevertheless, Figueira said that he was not offended by his replacement, since Flue-Bess was passionate and capable of doing the job; rather, it was the level of disrespect he felt he was dealt with by the Leader of the Opposition.
In a lengthy letter addressed to the Central Executive Committee of the PNCR, Figueira highlighted his extensive work and accomplishments in representing and assisting his constituents in Region Ten, including social and economic initiatives.
The letter questioned whether his removal came about as a result of his outspokenness and independent thinking or his disagreement with the Opposition Leader’s policy of not shaking President Irfaan Ali’s hand. Figueira further emphasised his value to the party and requested a review and reversal of the decision made.
Questioned during a press conference on Thursday, January 11, on his reason for the reshuffle, Norton said that since becoming Opposition Leader, there has been a comprehensive review of the portfolios from the last budget. Discussions, he said, were held with MPs to determine the areas that needed attention and adjustments were made.
Further, he emphasised the importance of addressing issues beyond just oil and gas in the natural resources portfolio, such as mining and forestry. The focus should not solely be on oil and gas, he said, but should also encompass other areas.
Norton added that various MPs have been moved to different portfolios based on their knowledge and experience, and explained the reasoning behind each move, with an emphasis on utilising individuals who have relevant expertise. In Figueira’s case, Norton said, the decision to assign a specific MP to the Culture, Youth and Sport portfolio was made due to the need for someone who was actively involved in the field, and Flue-Bess fit the profile. Furthermore, he stressed the importance of finding the right fit for each portfolio and addressed misperceptions about the roles of shadow ministers.
Concerning the alleged handshake policy being the possible reason for Figueira’s removal, Norton said that there was never such a policy.
The Opposition Leader explained that he chose not to shake the President’s hand, but he never instructed others to do the same. He further pointed out that he has observed many MPs shaking the President’s hand without any negative consequences, and re-emphasised that the decision to reshuffle the positions within the opposition party was aimed at improving the efficiency and effectiveness of Members of Parliament.
During the press conference, Norton was also questioned on whether or not the reshuffled MPs were informed about the decision. He said that there was no truth to claims that MPs were not being engaged, as a document was produced outlining the responsibilities of each MP, and examples were given, such as the reallocation of shadow minister positions to individuals with appropriate knowledge and expertise.
However, Figueira has insisted that he was never made aware of the decision before the announcement and that none of the MPs, as far as he knew, were informed prior.
Other MPs in the reshuffle include Geeta Chandan-Edmond of the PNCR who will be replaced as the shadow Home Affairs Minister by Ramjattan of the AFC while she moves to Governance and Parliamentary Affairs; Coretta McDonald who will now serve as shadow Minister of Education while Natasha Singh-Lewis will be moved from there to the Social Services portfolio.
Norton said during the press conference that those who served in previous posts will still have the opportunity to speak on those areas since they are knowledgeable.
