UK warns: Guyana at risk of referral to Commonwealth over Parliament suspension
Posted By Stabroek editor On January 12, 2015 @ 10:34 am In Local News | No Comments
The UK government this morning warned that there is growing concern over the suspension of Parliament by the Donald Ramotar administration and said Guyana is at risk of being referred to the Commonwealth Ministerial Action Group over the suspension of the law-making body.
“There is discussion about countries of concern in the Commonwealth every few months….Guyana is moving into a category of concern for the Commonwealth. That is quite clear from discussions that take place in London,” British High Commissioner to Guyana Andrew Ayre told reporters at a news conference at the Cara Lodge this morning.
He said that the November 10, 2014 suspension of Parliament by Ramotar is a clear breach of the Guyana Constitution and the Commonwealth Charter. “These things matter. The UK and other governments don’t sign the Commonwealth Charter…and then just put them to bed,” he said while calling on Guyana to fulfill its international obligations.
Ayre reiterated the UK’s call for the administration to resume Parliament without delay or lay out a timeline for the resumption of parliamentary democracy. “Guyana could be subject to a critical review because of breaches of the Commonwealth Charter,” London’s top diplomat in Guyana said.
He said that Britain’s aid to Guyana could also be affected. “Without a parliament there is no parliamentary oversight of development assistance or anything else. Clearly the appetite to send money to a country that has no parliamentary oversight is much reduced,” he asserted.
British High Commissioner to Guyana Andrew Ayre
On November 10 last year, Ramotar suspended the National Assembly to avoid a motion of no-confidence which was to be piloted on the same day by AFC MP Moses Nagamootoo and which was expected to bring down the government and trigger fresh elections.
Ramotar’s government has found little support for prorogation which critics have argued has shut down the legislative branch of government and the forum through which the people’s representatives are heard. Last month, amid political deadlock and facing growing criticism over his decision to suspend Parliament, Ramotar, who is presently on a state visit to India, announced that he will call general elections but declined to name a date, saying that he will “announce further steps” in this direction early next year. He has not yet named a date for the elections and Parliament remains prorogued.
Last week, Foreign Office Minister Tobias Ellwood reiterated the UK’s call for the Ramotar administration to lift the suspension of the law-making body.
Observers say that the statements by Ellwood and Ayre are clear signs that the international community is losing patience with the Ramotar administration over the suspension of Parliament and the denial of local government elections.
