Shuman declared Deputy Speaker of the House

Lenox Shuman was this morning declared Deputy Speaker of the House in a surprise development.

He was elected after he was nominated by PPP/C Prime Minister Mark Phillips and seconded by Minister of Parliamentary Affairs Gail Teixeira.

Prior to that, former Speaker of the House Raphael Trotman had been nominated to the post by MP Cathy Hughes and seconded by a member of APNU+AFC.

It was thereafter that Shuman’s surprise nomination was made and newly declared Speaker of the National Assembly Manzoor Nadir put his name to a vote without addressing the earlier nomination of Trotman.

Thirty-four MPs comprising the PPP/C’s 33 and Shuman voted for Shuman as Deputy Speaker.

The Deputy Speaker of the House is usually drawn from the opposition ranks. Shuman is a member of the opposition holding one seat as part of a list joinder with two other parties which contested the March 2nd general elections.

The major opposition – APNU+AFC – holds 31 seats and it would have been expected that its candidate would hold the position of Deputy Speaker.

The election of Shuman would be seen as a retrograde step in parliamentary relations between the government and the opposition.

Shuman is also an advisor to the government on civil aviation.

Lenox Shuman is wonderful individual with lots of positive, affirming qualities that are so scarce among politicians. But if he's getting paid as deputy speaker of parliament and presidential adviser on aviation wouldn't that be the same kind of double dipping that PPP has accused the APNU/AFC government of during the latter's term in government? I sincerely hope its not the case.