Prorogued Parliament…No ‘cool-out’ period, Ramotar has only amplified the heat – AFC Leader
While the government may feel as though it has silenced the citizenry and given the political opposition a chance
AFC Leader, Khemraj Ramjattan
to “cool off” by proroguing the Parliament, it has essentially, amplified the heat. This was expressed by Leader of the Alliance For Change (AFC) Leader, Khemraj Ramjattan yesterday at this party’s weekly press conference held at the Georgetown Club. Ramjattan said that the executive members of the AFC have done their best to inform the people on the ground and those in the hinterland region of the meaning of a prorogued parliament and its implications. This he said was successfully achieved after careful discussions were held with the party’s councilors in Regions Three, Five and Six. Ramjattan said that he hopes to use the media, in particular, to properly communicate to the man-on-the-street about the existing state of affairs. At a higher level, the AFC leader said that the party has also taken steps to hold discussions with the diplomatic community, specifically the United States of America, Britain, Canada, and the European Union (ABC-E). He said that this consultation was held on Tuesday afternoon. Ramjattan said that he articulated that the AFC will not conduct or facilitate any discussions with the government unless it reconvenes Parliament. “It is non-negotiable,” Ramjattan said. He emphasized that his party will not engage the government in any “side-bar or back-door” talks and all discussions will be done only in the Parliament. Additionally, the AFC parliamentarian updated the media that letters were also sent to various stakeholders and even joint letters with A Partnership for National Unity, will be sent to the international community. He said that the joint opposition is targeting Caricom and prominent congressmen and senators in the USA, along with heads of Commonwealth nations. He noted as well, that the AFC is expected to have a meeting with the business community today on the approaches it will be taking upon the resumption of Parliament. Ramjattan disclosed that the no-confidence motion will also be discussed. Strongly suspecting that the government will be agreeing to a number of major contracts and agreements in the extractive industry; forestry and mining, Ramjattan said that any contract in this regard will not be viewed as binding. He said that once a new government is elected, it reserves the right to reopen and reject any contractual agreement that is not perceived to be grounded in transparency. Admitting that such a move would most likely hinder investor confidence, Ramjattan said that entrepreneurs need to understand that once they enter into any agreement with the government during this period, it is inherently tarnished and should not be found to be binding. AFC member, Dominic Gaskin said that were the Public Procurement Commission in place, it would have been able to place its confidence in such an organ that any contract government signs onto at this point would be duly scrutinized. Ramjattan later emphasized that the provision in the Constitution to prorogue, was not intended to be used to allow the opposition to “cool off.” He loathed the fact that the government utilized the provision “only to prolong its inevitable end”. “President Donald Ramotar just amplified the heat rather than expecting a cool out period,” the AFC leader added. The politician also made known his disappointment in the fact that government sought to raise the excise tax on fuel in light of the fact that there is a drop in prices on the world market. Ramjattan said that the citizenry should be benefitting from the decrease, instead, the farmers, the transportation sector, and the mining communities will have to suffer from the jacked-up prices. The AFC leader said that had it not been for a prorogued parliament, a motion to halt the unreasonable price increase would most certainly have been made before the House.