Motions tabled and passed by Opposition do not affect Gov’t policies– Attorney General

Georgetown, GINA, June 28, 2012 -- Source - GINA

The recent spate of Motions tabled and passed by the Opposition parties in the National Assembly will not affect Government policies, Attorney General, Minister of Legal Affairs and Legal Advisor to the State of Guyana Anil Nandlall said yesterday as put the efficacy of a Parliamentary Motion into perspective.

He was at the time making his presentation in rejecting an Opposition Motion to place all funds for extra budgetary agencies into the Consolidated Fund.

He pointed to the erroneous view that the passage of an Opposition motion “constitutes some coercive impact upon Government policy.”

He rejected that notion outright and quoted from a reference book of the National Assembly, Practical Guide for Private Members Business, Ninth Edition …  ”a motion expressing a resolution is only the House stating an opinion. The Government will not be bound to adopt a specific policy or course of action, as a result thereof.”

Since the convening of the 10th Parliament in February 2012, several Motions tabled by the Opposition Parliamentary parties have been debated and approved through their one-seat majority over the Government side of the House.