Opposition meet on possible no-confidence vote… Decision pending

By Latoya Giles, July 4, 2014, By KNews, Filed Under News, Source

Late yesterday afternoon, talks continued between the joint opposition, the Alliance for Change (AFC) and A Partnership for National Unity (APNU), on a possible no-confidence vote against the current administration.

The AFC, through its Chairman Moses Nagamootoo, had sent a 10-point resolution in contemplation of a motion of no-confidence against the PPP government.

One of the reasons was the Finance Minister’s “violation of the law” by spending $4.5B of monies not approved by the National Assembly in the 2014 budget, AFC charged.

APNU’s Joseph Harmon told Kaieteur News yesterday afternoon that both entities are exploring a range of options, one of which is the no-confidence motion.

He said that they have decided to further explore the notion of a no- confidence vote against the government.  He said that there are several things that need to be addressed.

Harmon told Kaieteur News that they are also contemplating other actions in the face of the perceived violation of the constitution. He noted that those options are not being disclosed now, but will be known at the next sitting of parliament which is set for next Wednesday, July 9.

Member of Parliament for the AFC, Cathy Hughes, told Kaieteur News that they are still in conversation with APNU and other stakeholders. “We are in lots of conversations…it’s a discussion,” Hughes told Kaieteur News.

On Monday, General Secretary of the People’s Progressive Party, Clement Rohee, said that he challenged the opposition parties to demonstrate their ‘testicular capacity’ by giving effect to their stated desire for a no-confidence motion in parliament. Failing this they should “shut up and forever hold their peace”.

Rohee stated that the fact remains that the AFC and the APNU are “basking in the glory of their combined Parliamentary one-seat majority which they full well know would not continue in any future elections.

“The statements by the opposition are therefore nothing but the work of a politically bankrupt opposition intended to make up for their pathetic performance in and out of Parliament rather than out of any clear and well thought out position.”

If a motion of no-confidence is passed on the current government, then a period of six months is given before National Elections are called.

Rohee, who is of the opinion that the opposition would lose its one-seat majority should new elections be held, was asked to justify his statements against the backdrop of the statement by former political executive and analyst, Ralph Ramkarran, who is contending that the new elections could yield the same results.

He responded that everyone is free to give their prognosis of what they discern or predict, based on their analysis, could be the outcome of any future elections.

After talks about a possible no-confidence vote being brought against his administration, Head of State Donald Ramotar said that he was ready for early general elections if the opposition went ahead with the no-confidence vote.

It was AFC Member of Parliament Moses Nagamootoo who said that his main reason for calling the no-confidence motion was the fact that government has already spent G$4.5 billion of the $37.4 billion which had been cut by the joint opposition from the $220 billion 2014 budget.