The We Invest in Nationhood (WIN) party, the main opposition party in the National Assembly, has sent a pre-action letter to Speaker Manzoor Nadir, demanding a meeting within 14 days to elect a new Leader of the Opposition, warning that failure to do so will lead to legal action.
In the letter, drafted by their attorney, Siand Dhurjon, the 16 WIN Members of Parliament asserted that there is no constitutional barrier preventing the Speaker from convening a meeting to elect the Leader of the Opposition, a position recognized under Article 184 (1) of the Constitution.
Dhurjon emphasized that the Speaker must take immediate steps to arrange this meeting among non-governmental members of the National Assembly. He cautioned that continued delays could result in proceedings in the High Court.
The matter was initially brought to the Speaker’s attention during the first sitting of the 13th Parliament on November 3, where WIN members requested an immediate meeting to elect the Opposition Leader. However, the Speaker declined to convene the meeting on that day. In a verbal exchange, MP Natasha Singh-Lewis was informed that it “doesn’t have to wait until the next sitting.”
As of now, no subsequent meeting has occurred. Dhurjon highlighted that all non-governmental Members of Parliament were present at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre on November 3, capable of holding the meeting right afterward.
He noted that MP Singh-Lewis later wrote to the Speaker seeking an update, but has received no response.
“It is inconceivable that the Constitution could ever allow delays regarding your mandatory obligation under Article 184 (1),” Dhurjon argued, underscoring the crucial role of the Leader of the Opposition in the governance process.
He urged the Speaker to act swiftly, recognizing the importance of the position and its public functions.
Attempts by News Source to reach the Speaker for comment were unsuccessful, although Clerk Sherlock Isaacs stated he was not aware of the latest correspondence from WIN. He also mentioned that no date has been set for the National Assembly’s next sitting or the meeting to elect the Leader of the Opposition.
