THE National Assembly sits today, one of the most anticipated sittings of the 10th Parliament, and regardless of ‘how the chips fall’ history will be made today.
In different quarters there have been talks about the likely passage of the unprecedented Alliance For Change (AFC) sponsored no-confidence motion against the current Administration; the view from A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) that “Armageddon” could be on the horizon; and the President’s options to either prorogue Parliament or move to dissolve the proceedings, paving the way for fresh general elections; as well as calls from the Guyanese populace for maturity among the nation’s leaders.
The Guyana Chronicle was able to garner the views of several major stakeholders on their expectations for today’s sitting.
Opposition Leader David Granger
OPTIONS OUTLINED
President Donald Ramotar, last Tuesday, in announcing today as the date for the sitting of the National Assembly, made it clear that there are urgent matters to be addressed in the interest of the people of Guyana.
He said, “I disclose these, my intentions, on the assumption that the post-recess sittings of the National Assembly would proceed uninterruptedly, deliberating on the urgent matters…in the interest of the people of Guyana.
Mr. Ralph Ramkarran, Former Speaker of the National Assembly
“I also wish to declare that were this not to be so, and I am provided with reasons to believe that the Parliamentary Opposition intends to disrupt Government’s business by forcing a debate on their No-Confidence Motion, I resolve to respond immediately by exercising my constitutional options to either prorogue or dissolve Parliament, paving the way for holding of General Elections.”
APPEAL TO THE PUBLIC
APNU Leader, Brigadier (rtd.) David Granger, added his views on the matter yesterday morning while at the Remembrance Day Wreath Laying proceedings at the Cenotaph in Georgetown.
He said, “We can’t engage with a gun at our heads. This National Assembly is a forum for national debate. It’s the voice of the people. I can’t see how he can expect us to prorogue the Parliament and expect us to have any discussions under duress. The place for discussions is in the National Assembly. If he shuts it down, then he shuts down dialogue.”
PROTEST ACTION
Meanwhile, the main Opposition party has also been actively rallying the support of the Guyanese public to come out in support of a protest action planned for today outside Public Buildings at noon.
Mr. Khemraj Ramjattan, leader of the AFC, declined to give a comment on the matter. However, his party, on its Facebook page, also made a public appeal for Guyanese to join a protest action outside Public Buildings, expected to commence at noon.
Khemraj Ramjattan
“Leave your offices early, leave your homes and wherever you are to come out to support the AFC…let us join the call for fresh elections in 2015. We cannot allow the PPP to continue with this destruction,” the AFC’s Facebook post said.
It added that, “Monday, November 10 at 14.00hrs is a historical day in our country. For the first time a No- Confidence Motion will be read against a Government.”
PLACE OF COMPROMISE
Meanwhile, House Speaker, Mr. Raphael Trotman was unavailable for comment. However, in a local publication, circulated over the weekend, he stated that Parliament ought to be a place of compromise.
Trotman said, “The Parliament of Guyana cannot continue in its traditional role of just having a Government and Opposition. The results of the last election and the socio-economic make-up of our country demand a different form of governance.
“How can we do this? The last round of constitutional reform created the mechanism that we have since failed to firmly grip. Though we stalled, it is not too late. Article 13 of the reformed constitution succinctly sets out the form of governance we should pursue: ‘The principal objective of the political system of the State is to establish an inclusionary democracy by providing increasing opportunities for the participation of citizens, and their organisations in the management and decision-making processes of the State, with particular emphasis on those areas of decision-making that affect their well-being.’
“…We have become mired in blame-throwing and the practice and perpetuation of zero-sum politics. It is a clichÉ to state, yet still worthy of repetition, that Guyana can never be developed by one man or woman, one ethnic group, or one political party. We have to venture into a more entrenched and delineated form of inclusive governance…. We have to re-organise our Parliament; not just for now, but for all time.”
CONFRONTATION LIKELY
Former House speaker, Mr. Ralph Ramkarran, on his weekly online blog, ‘The Conversation Tree’, contends that a “confrontation” today is inevitable.
Joseph Harmon
He said, “A confrontation is likely to be inevitable on Monday, since the Opposition appears to have agreed that the no-confidence motion will be given priority. Their majority would enable them to suspend the Standing Orders for this purpose or to determine when the National Assembly should meet. The President, presumably, will announce his decision of whether to prorogue or dissolve.
Raphael Trotman
“…President Ramotar said in his address to the nation last week that if the Opposition persists with the no- confidence motion, he will ‘prorogue or dissolve’ the National Assembly. These are two completely different options.”
He also highlighted that the Opposition has failed to highlight and promote in the past three years this most critical issue facing Guyana today, which is the need for a political solution.
“It (the Opposition) did not use the opportunity during this period to highlight and maintain at the forefront of political discourse that a place at the executive table is a pre-requisite for stable governance by consensus. They went along with the minority status quo, more concerned about the allegation that all they are interested in is political power and maybe for other political considerations and calculations,” Ramkarran said.
CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHT
Whatever the outcome of today’s sitting, Attorney-General (AG) and Minister of Legal Affairs, Mr. Anil Nandlall, stated that the options referred to by the Head of State, to dissolve or prorogue Parliament, are his constitutional rights.
Nandlall said, “The Opposition has decided to flex their political muscles by stating publicly that they will move a no-confidence motion against the Government. If they proceed along that route, they would be acting in accordance with the Constitution and would be exercising their constitutional right and powers. If the President dissolves or prorogue Parliament, then he will also be exercising a constitutional power and a right which the Constitution resides with him.
“Why is it right and democratic for the Opposition to exercise their constitutional right and powers but if the President is to exercise his, it is wrong and undemocratic? Only one set of people in this country has rights?”
Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs
Attorney-at-Law and General-Secretary for APNU, Mr. Joseph Harmon, on the other hand holds a different view.
He told the Guyana Chronicle yesterday that it is clear that APNU intends to move ahead with its support of the no-confidence motion, and the party expects the President to do as he indicated, either to dissolve or prorogue Parliament.
As it relates to the latter, Harmon said, “It is his right yes, but whether it is a legal right, is another matter. You may have a constitutional right, but it does not mean that right is legal, because it has not been tested…in the present circumstances in Guyana, the right does not exist, even though it is constitutionally provided for. If tested in a court of law you may find that is not a legal exercise of authority.”
The House has not met since it came out of recess on October 10 and prior to going into its annual two-month recess on August 10, there had been no sitting since July 10. However, as confirmed by the Clerk of the National Assembly, Mr. Sherlock Isaacs, a sitting in November is not unusual – rather it is common if one were to look at the post-recess sittings in previous years.