No plan to resign, will exhaust appeals – Granger; Harmon deems UN official’s position against gov’t “premature”
President David Granger addressing party faithful at the official opening of the PNCR’s Region Three Headquarters, Congress House, at Vreed-en-Hoop, West Bank Demerara. Seated are party Chairperson, Volda Lawrence and General Secretary, Amna Ally.
President David Granger on Sunday vowed not to resign and that government would remain in office while the controversial no-confidence motion case is appealed right up to the Caribbean Court of Justice and after the next general elections are held.
Addressing the official commissioning of his People’s National Congress’ Region 3 (West Demerara) headquarters at Vreed-en-Hoop, Granger promised that government would not violate Guyana’s constitution. He said the judicial process would be followed “until we have exhausted, satisfactorily, I hope, every element and aspect of the law.”
“There is no such thing as interim government. There is no such thing as caretaker government. I remain President until the next President is sworn in so I don’t know they gon wok that one out. I ain’t going no way until the next president is sworn in,” he told more than 1,200 persons many of whom were transported by buses from other areas.
Granger said Parliament has not been dissolved and the National Assembly “still has work to do” but he did not elaborate.
The High Court last week did not grant a stay of its decision and a conservatory order after ruling that the no-confidence motion was validly passed on December 21, 2018 by a vote of 33 to 32, instead leaving that to the Court of Appeal.
While the opposition People’s Progressive Party (PPP) has intensified calls for the President and Cabinet to resign and make way for general elections within the stipulated 90 days since the no-confidence motion’s passage, Granger on Sunday maintained that his administration has not flouted the law. “We are a legal, legitimate government. Nothing, that we have done so far is outside of the law and as far as I am President nothing that we will do will be outside of the law,” he said.
Despite last week’s decision by the Chief Justice, Roxane George-Wiltshire, that the no-confidence motion was validly passed and that the President and Cabinet should have resigned immediately, Minister of State Joseph Harmon said “there is no restriction on the work of the government”.
Meanwhile, Harmon deemed “premature” United Nations Resident Coordinator in Guyana Mikiko Tanaka’s call for the government to respect the High Court’s decision. “I thought that was a premature statement unless there is some evidence of it.” Asked whether he believed Tanaka’s comments amounted to meddling in Guyana’s internal affairs, Harmon added that, “I wouldn’t take it that far but I would say that it’s a statement I believe has no basis right now because as a government we have always respected the constitution, we have always respected the law and so there is no need for a warning at this point in time as far as I’m concerned,” he said.
Tanaka has called on the Granger-led administration to respect Guyana’s constitution and the Court’s decision. “The delivery of the decisions by the Chief Justice demonstrates the independence and integrity of the Judiciary in protecting the Constitution and upholding the rule of law. The Honourable Speaker’s earlier validation of the process of the controversial voting at the National Assembly was testimony of the integrity of the legislative arm of the State.”
“It is hoped that the third arm of the State, the Executive, will demonstrate its integrity and respect for Guyana’s Constitution and the Judiciary that constitute the foundation for the rule of law,” Tanaka said.
Granger and Harmon sought to excite political emotions saying that one vote – a clear reference to the vote by then government parliamentarian Charrandas Persaud in favour of the opposition sponsored no-confidence motion – has displaced a government that attracted 207,000 votes at the May 2015 general elections.
“One against 207,000? This is what is the popular will of the people?,” Harmon queried.
However, he sounded very energetic in a 36-minute speech that was punctuated by him poking fun at People’s Progressive Party (PPP) presidential candidate Irfaan Ali’s absence and his inability to enter Canada.
President Granger credited his administration with increasing pensions and salaries as well as providing free transportation to school children.
Stressing the importance of APNU and AFC sticking together, the President called on party supporters to ensure everyone in West Demerara is registered and they are mobilised countrywide as a demonstration of the coalition’s strength.
