PRESS STATEMENT

The attention of the Office of the Leader of the Opposition has been drawn to a very long and exhausting document, styled “Legal Memorandum”, addressed to the Speaker of the National Assembly, from Basil Williams, in relation to the alleged “lawfulness” of the no confidence motion passed in the National Assembly on the 21 st December, 2018.

The nation and the world have already accepted that the no confidence motion has passed and that the coalition Government has fallen. It would be recalled that the Speaker has already ruled that the motion was carried and consequently, the Clerk of the National Assembly has already issued a resolution pursuant to the said motion. On the very night of the 21 st December, 2018, the Prime Minister informed the Press that the Government was defeated by the no confidence motion which was passed, by a majority of 33:32 and the Prime Minister committed that the Government would comply with the ensuing constitutional process of going to elections within 3 months. Indeed, to exhibit his legal learning, the Prime Minister referred to all the relevant provisions of the Constitution at that Press Conference. The following day the President conceded that the Government was defeated by the no confidence motion and publically announced the Government’s preparedness to comply with the consequential constitutional prescription.

The Speaker has no further role to play in relation to the no confidence motion. Certainly, he has no review powers whatsoever over the already completed process. This “Legal Memorandum” is the latest act of desperation of a power drunk group who wish to cling to power at all cost and in the process, to subvert and trample upon our Constitution, the integrity of the National Assembly and indeed, the Rule of Law. The “Legal Memorandum” constitutes an amalgam of misconceived and ill-conceived legal arguments and the citation of a host of case law authorities that are absolutely irrelevant to the propositions which they purport to support. In the circumstances, we reject this “Legal Memorandum” as vexatious, frivolous and wholly irrelevant. The Speaker is urged to do likewise.

Again the Leader of the Opposition calls on the Government to immediately begin the preparations for the holding of elections in accordance with Article 106 of the Constitution.

December 30th, 2018