Stabreok News : October 29, 2014
Speaker of the National Assembly Raphael Trotman
this evening said that the nation faced
a “clear and unvarnished constitutional crisis”
after the Clerk of the National Assembly Sherlock Isaacs
today declined the speaker’s request
to convene a sitting of parliament on November 6.
Trotman in a statement said that
the Clerk maintained his view
that the Speaker lacked the authority
to convene sittings of the National Assembly.
Trotman noted that the roles of Speaker
and Clerk are regulated by the constitution
and it is the duty of the Clerk to convene the sitting.
The Clerk has been of the view
that the government has to set the date.
Government Chief Whip Gail Teixeira
has been accused by opposition Chief Whip Amna Ally
of dilly-dallying over the setting of the date.
Teixeira has not been available in recent days
to explain the continuing delay.
Observers say the government wants
to stave off a sitting
as it would likely see
an AFC motion of no-confidence passed against.
The government appears to be holding out
for some deal with the opposition coalition APNU
which would put the no-confidence motion on the back burner.
In his statement,
Trotman invited all
“well thinking Guyanese to join me
in examining all viable options
and avenues to break the impasse
in the interest of our beloved nation”.
