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Former Member
Govt files No-Confidence Motion against Harmon
…demands immediate resignation as Opposition Leader
In a shocking twist one day after Opposition Leader Joseph Harmon filed No-Confidence Motions (NCM’s) against two People’s Progressive Party (PPP) Government Ministers, Prime Minister Retired Brigadier Mark Phillips has slapped Harmon with a NCM of his own.
President Dr Irfaan Ali
According to the motion seen by this publication prepared by Phillips, he is demanding Harmon’s immediate resignation from the position of Leader of the Opposition.
The NCM cites several grounds for Harmon’s removal, starting with his role in the A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change’s (APNU/AFC) desperate fight to stay in power after losing the March 2, 2020 General and Regional Elections.
Phillips also contended that the Opposition Leader “recklessly misinformed the public and the National Assembly” when it comes to the Covid 19 vaccine, its efficacy, and its acquisition by the government.
Prime Minister, Brigadier (ret’d) Mark Phillips
This is a reference to Harmon’s recent campaign against the Government’s acquisition of Sputnik-V vaccines, during which he even called for a halt to the distribution of the vaccine. According to Phillips, Harmon’s actions endangered lives and increased vaccine hesitancy among an already vulnerable population.
“And whereas the Leader of the Opposition opportunistically used the horrific murder of the Henry youth from West Coast Berbice as a means to incite ethnic disharmony. And whereas the Leader of the Opposition has consistently denigrated the representative of the joiner parties, Mr. Lenox Shuman, Deputy Speaker, as a legitimate member of the parliamentary opposition, even going so far as to deny him holding an opposition seat on any parliamentary committee. Be It Resolved that this House expresses its lack of confidence in the Leader of the Opposition and calls for his immediate resignation,” Phillips said in his motion.
No effort, political drama
Meanwhile, On Wednesday, President Dr Irfaan Ali also poured cold water over the motions of no confidence APNU/AFC brought against his Ministers, saying the Opposition did not even put any effort into their motions.
Opposition Leader Joseph Harmon
During an interview with the media on the side lines of another event, the President pointed out that the motions filed against Minister of Health Dr Frank Anthony and Minister of Home Affairs Robeson Benn are one-liners that seem to have been hurriedly put together.
“If you are going to do something meaningful you should put effort [into] it. Have you seen it? The motion is one line. They didn’t spend time to put effort… it is just political drama and it has no thinking or structure or work behind it… it’s just political drama and I don’t have time for that,” the President said.
President Ali went on to say that his focus remains on delivering on his party’s promise to the Guyanese people, something he noted both Ministers Anthony and Benn have been doing. However, he did note that the motions filed by APNU/AFC will give his Government the chance to once again examine the coalition’s record in office.
Motions
Harmon filed the motions against Dr Anthony and Benn on Tuesday, descending on the National Assembly with a number of his fellow Opposition Members of Parliament (MPs) in tow.
His motion against Dr Anthony is being seconded by former junior Minister of Health, Dr Karen Cummings. On the other hand, his motion against Benn is being seconded by shadow Home Affairs Minister Geeta Chandan-Edmonds.
Upon receiving the motion, Clerk of the National Assembly Sherlock Issacs informed the Opposition Leader that he will examine the motions to ensure they “do not offend the standing orders”, after which they will be transmitted to Speaker of the National Assembly Manzoor Nadir, for his approval or disapproval. Issacs did promise Harmon, however, that he would handle the motions expeditiously.
According to a statement from the APNU/AFC afterwards, “…in filing these No-Confidence Motions, is acting on behalf of hundreds of thousands of Guyanese who have lost all confidence in the performance of these two incompetent Ministers to perform their duties.”
The APNU/AFC contended that “the management of the spread of COVID-19 has been woeful, there has been questionable procurement of vaccines and confirmed COVID cases and deaths are spiralling out of control. Dr Anthony must bear direct responsibility for the health care crisis and disaster he has placed Guyana in, imperilling the lives and health and wellbeing of every citizen. The nation has lost confidence in Dr Anthony and we formally take action on behalf of the people of Guyana today.”
At present, the configuration of the National Assembly sees the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) with the parliamentary majority of 33 out of 65 seats. APNU/AFC, the main Opposition party, has 31 seats, while the Liberty and Justice Party (LJP), in collaboration with two other parties, holds one.
Govt files No-Confidence Motion against Harmon
…demands immediate resignation as Opposition Leader
Dem_Guy ,the above is hogwash ,Government doesn't nominate the Opposition Leader and have no voice calling for resignation ,appears they don't follow the Constitution.
HaHaHaaaaaa! What a load of rubbish, see now, that's how bullies operate. That Nandlall banna must have had a say in this.
@cain posted:HaHaHaaaaaa! What a load of rubbish, see now, that's how bullies operate. That Nandlall banna must have had a say in this.
Rubber stamp Prime Minister follows orders ,another Sam Blinds .
What the Opposition should have done filed a motion of no-confidence of Governance by the PPP/C ,the government is breaching the Constitution and other irregularities ,doesn't matter they don't have the votes ,the wrong doings will be exposed in parliament.
Former Member
@Django posted:Govt files No-Confidence Motion against Harmon
…demands immediate resignation as Opposition Leader
Dem_Guy ,the above is hogwash ,Government doesn't nominate the Opposition Leader and have no voice calling for resignation ,appears they don't follow the Constitution.
Government, members of parliament or others can call for the removal of the Opposition Leader or any member of parliament.
The process for achieving the demands then rests with the decision of parliament.
@Former Member posted:Government, members of parliament or others can call for the removal of the Opposition Leader or any member of parliament.
The process for achieving the demands then rests with the decision of parliament.
Wrong no Government ,which members of Parliament ?
Former Member
Issues of removing members are in the process; as noted by the articles in the news media and those posted on this thread.
@Former Member posted:Issues of removing members are in the process; as noted by the articles in the news media and those posted on this thread.
Newspaper articles are not the Constitution . The Government have no voice in calling for resignation of the Opposition Leader.
Former Member
Aren't these Guyanese politicans a fking joke? Between suing each other and expressing "no confidence" in each other what the fck do they get done for the country?
What a miserable, god forsaken shithole place run by shitheads on both sides. They accomplished ZERO in 55+ years and continue down that path. It's called insanity. Insane fckers.
Former Member
We will see how the matter proceeds.
@Former Member posted:We will see how the matter proceeds.
Guyana is a shithole country and a cursed place.
@Django posted:What the Opposition should have done filed a motion of no-confidence of Governance by the PPP/C ,the government is breaching the Constitution and other irregularities ,doesn't matter they don't have the votes ,the wrong doings will be exposed in parliament.
They should chat with dah banna the PPP bribed (ChannaRass) to vote against dem this time aroung, he'll probably do it for a nice large fry rice with Banga Mary pon de side an' a couple green an yellow T shirts.
Harmon is a dinosaur. His face looks like he took an experimental vaccine. He needs to retire from politics and kick back and enjoy retirement. Let some new young member from his party take control and hopefully win back votes.
Good ting PNC lost. again and again!
Former Member
No-Confidence Motion against Opposition Leader now with Speaker
The government’s No-Confidence Motion against Opposition Leader, Joseph Harmon, has been officially delivered to Clerk of the National Assembly, Sherlock Isaacs.
Isaacs confirmed on Monday morning that he has since reviewed the document and has forwarded it to Speaker of the National Assembly, Manzoor Nadir, for his consideration.
While the Motion was filed on Friday last by Prime Minister, Brigadier (retired) Mark Phillips, it was only delivered to Nadir on Monday morning.
On Friday, Nadir had confirmed seeing a copy of the document, but he could not be immediately reached on Monday for a comment.
Nadir is also reviewing two other No-Confidence Motions, filed by the APNU+AFC opposition against the Minister of Health, Dr. Frank Anthony, and the Minister of Home Affairs, Robeson Benn.
He said he intends to make a decision on how the Motions move forward early this week.
In the Motion against Harmon, the government claims to have lost confidence in his ability to serve as Opposition Leader on several fronts.
The government intends to call into question Harmon’s suitability for the post as Opposition Leader because he continues to “consistently and repeatedly misinform the public and the National Assembly that the APNU+AFC coalition won the 2020 General and Regional Election.”
The government believes this amounts to an undermining of democracy in the country. Additionally, the government has raised issue with Harmon “recklessly misinforming the public and National Assembly regarding the COVID-19 vaccine.”
The motion notes that his utterances have falsely cast doubt on the vaccine’s efficacy and acquisition. But moreover, the government says Harmon opportunistically used the September 2020 murder of Isaiah and Joel Henry to incite racial disharmony.
The government has already said that it stands ready to defend the performance of Dr. Anthony and Benn in a parliamentary debate although the motions will not succeed due to the government’s one seat majority in the House.
Former Member
Speaker seeks legal advice in NCMs against Harmon, Benn & Anthony
Speaker of the National Assembly Manzoor Nadir, who was reviewing No-Confidence Motions (NCMs) brought against Opposition Leader Joseph Harmon and two Government Ministers, has approached the Ministry of Legal Affairs for advice.
In a brief interview with Guyana Times, Clerk of the National Assembly Sherlock Issacs confirmed that he wrote to the Ministry of Legal Affairs on Monday. According to him, advise is being sought particularly in the case of the NCM against Opposition Leader Joseph Harmon.
Speaker of the National Assembly, Manzoor Nadir
“For example, the motion for the removal of the Leader of the Opposition involves the law, Article 184 (3). As you are aware, the Clerk is supposed to be the expert on the Standing Orders. But where the law is involved, I’m not an expert in the law.”
“So, while I’m clear on the parliamentary side, I’m not clear on the law. When the law is involved, especially in the interpretation of the law, matters must be submitted for legal advice or guidance,” Issacs explained.
Issacs explained that based on the advice from the AG Chambers, Speaker of the National Assembly Manzoor Nadir will make a decision. A perusal of Article 184 (3) of the Constitution of Guyana meanwhile shows that it speaks to the removal of the Opposition Leader.
It states that “Where one-third of the non-governmental members of the Assembly represent to the Speaker that the Leader of the Opposition no longer enjoys their confidence, the Speaker shall call a meeting of all non-governmental members at which it shall be decided whether the Leader of the Opposition shall be removed from office; the removal shall be effected by the votes of a majority of all the non-governmental members.”
Motions
Opposition Leader Joseph Harmon
Harmon had filed motions against Minister of Health, Dr Frank Anthony and Minister of Home Affairs Robeson Benn last week, calling for their resignations over what he claimed was their poor running of their Ministries.
The A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC) had contended in a statement that “the management of the spread of COVID-19 has been woeful, there has been questionable procurement of vaccines and confirmed COVID cases and deaths are spiralling out of control. Dr Anthony must bear direct responsibility for the health care crisis and disaster he has placed Guyana in, imperilling the lives and health and wellbeing of every citizen. The nation has lost confidence in Dr Anthony and we formally take action on behalf of the people of Guyana today.”
The People’s Progressive Party (PPP) Government side, through Prime Minister, Retired Brigadier Mark Phillips, filed a No-Confidence Motion against Harmon the very next day. According to the NCM prepared by Phillips, he is demanding Harmon’s immediate resignation from the position of Leader of the Opposition.
The NCM cites several grounds for Harmon’s removal, starting with his role in the APNU/AFC’s desperate fight to stay in power after losing the March 2, 2020 General and Regional Elections.
Health Minister, Dr Frank Anthony
Phillips also contended that the Opposition Leader “recklessly misinformed the public and the National Assembly” when it comes to the COVID-19 vaccine, its efficacy, and its acquisition by the Government.
This is a reference to Harmon’s recent campaign against the Government’s acquisition of Sputnik-V vaccines, during which he even called for a halt to the distribution of the vaccine. According to Phillips, Harmon’s actions endangered lives and increased vaccine hesitancy among an already vulnerable population.
Home Affairs Minister Robeson Benn
“And Whereas the Leader of the Opposition opportunistically used the horrific murder of the Henry youth from West Coast Berbice as a means to incite ethnic disharmony. And Whereas the Leader of the Opposition has consistently denigrated the representative of the joiner parties, Mr. Lenox Shuman, Deputy Speaker, as a legitimate member of the parliamentary opposition, even going so far as to deny him holding an opposition seat on any parliamentary committee. Be It Resolved that this House expresses its lack of confidence in the Leader of the Opposition and calls for his immediate resignation,” Phillips said in his motion.
At present, the configuration of the National Assembly sees the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) with the parliamentary majority of 33 out of 65 seats. APNU/AFC, the main Opposition party, has 31 seats, while the Liberty and Justice Party (LJP), in collaboration with two other parties, holds one.
Nadir is seeking advice from Nandlall. Guess how that will go.
Former Member
Attorney General provides advice to governments.
Mohabir Anil Nandalall - current Attorney General.
Basil Williams - former Attorney General.
This move by the PPP seems to be rather provocative of a civil war in all the regions.
Which side will the army and the police join?
@Former Member posted:Attorney General provides advice to governments.
Mohabir Anil Nandalall - current Attorney General.
Basil Williams - former Attorney General.
Are you well?
Be thankful that Guyana got Sputnik vaccines at the time when every country was scrambling to get vaccinated. It is a price every Guyanese should pay the Guyanese state for. As Dr. P. A. Reid said when Guyanese get things for free they don't appreciate it. So every working Guyanese who received vaccines should pay the state back at $5 Guyana dollars a month for the next 20 years.
I will repeat Spugum's question to Prash regarding his post.
Are you well?
Brother Cain at 5 Guyana dollars a month for the next 20 years interest free. Working Guyanese have no excuse not to pay for their vaccines.
How much does it cost the person taking the vaccine in the US?
@Prashad posted:Brother Cain at 5 Guyana dollars a month for the next 20 years interest free. Working Guyanese have no excuse not to pay for their vaccines.
How much are you paying for yours?
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