No-confidence motion…Govt. plans to buy- off three MPs at $30M each – Ramjattan

Sep 19, 2014 News

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Three Parliamentarians from the Opposition’s camp are expected to be bought at a whopping $30M to vote

against the no-confidence motion.
This is according to Leader of the Alliance For Change (AFC), Khemraj Ramjattan, who claims that regardless of the suspicions that government will call for a confidence motion and/or a judicial review to delay looming early general elections, “the ultimate bribe” from those in the hierarchy is expected to be government’s power play move.
Ramjattan was at the time responding to a question posed by this publication as to whether his party considered the fact that government has options available to it and once used, could close the chapter on preparation for general elections.
The party’s Vice Chairman, Moses Nagamootoo said at a press conference which was held yesterday at the Georgetown Club that it appears that the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) is seeking to turn the situation into a rigmarole process.
He reminded that at first, it appeared as though the PPP was not afraid of the no-confidence motion. He made this conclusion based on previous comments by the party’s General Secretary, Clement Rohee, who had said, “Bring it on…Make my day.”
He said all of a sudden the PPP is now talking about a judicial review. Nagamootoo asserted that the AFC will bring the no-confidence motion to parliament and he has no doubt that the coalition, A Partnership for National Unity (APNU), will hold fast to its promise of unwavering support when “Judgment Day” comes.
Ramjattan, in further support of his colleague’s points, said that it comes as a surprise that those two options are now on the table and though speculative, he said that the Constitution is most explicit when it comes to a no-confidence motion.
He reminded that once this motion is passed by a majority of the Parliamentarians of the House, the government must resign within 90 days and elections held thereafter.
“Based on my legal opinion, there is nothing that causes that motion to be subject to judicial review, but knowing the busybody called Anil Nandlall (Attorney General), he will take it to the Chief Justice, and I rather feel that he will make short shrift of it.”

“The only  people that can block this motion are the movers of the motion or the parliamentarians by not voting for it, and that is the limit in relation to that, so I am not in any way scared…I will tell you this, we have gotten reliable information that the PPP’s answer to the no-confidence motion is not what is being said, but at least by buying off three parliamentarians at $30M each to vote no rather than yes, and that’s the only way…and that’s the only option they have.”
The attorney at law was then asked if he has confidence in the Opposition not falling prey to such a trap. To this, he replied, “I believe and I act on the presumption that all opposition parliamentarians want the PPP out and want another elections. I believe that they will hold fast to principle and act on political morality. They will have to act in accordance with their conscience…but, we can never know, probably the price can jump higher.”
While the political opposition brought a no-confidence motion, which is premised on the belief that the powers in charge are no longer fit to run the country, the government has the option of bringing a confidence motion to the National Assembly. A confidence motion is a vote of approval that the government can certainly run the affairs of the country effectively and efficiently.
According to a legal officer attached to the Parliament, once government brings a confidence motion, it would take precedence over the no-confidence motion brought by the political opposition. This, of course, would delay the process of dealing with the no-confidence motion in a timely manner.
Even if the government does not decide to play this card, it can always resort to calling for a judicial review of the no-confidence motion. This can take a period of six months. The legal officer said that it is not farfetched for one to conclude that the government might not go this route as it has developed a pattern of taking matters to the court when it is not pleased with a particular decision or ruling of the National Assembly.
He explained as well that even the judicial review, which can take up to six months, can also be granted another extension if the Chief Justice requires such. With this in mind, he concluded that it is highly unlikely “in spite of all the talk of early general elections” it will come to fruition in 2015.
Attorney General Anil Nandlall was asked recently whether the government has considered using either of the two moves when the National Assembly comes out of recess in October. He neither denied the possibility of doing such nor confirmed it, only saying that, “I will comment on our moves, at the opportune time.”
However, a government official has confirmed that talks have already begun as to how the administration plans to effectively deal with the political opposition’s no-confidence motion. Kaieteur News was also told that it is very likely that government will most definitely lay a confidence motion, and if it is defeated, it will resort to “plan B”—a call for a judicial review.
One letter writer had written in August about this option that is available to the government. He contended that the government is clearly trying to “delay and play silly games” to avoid facing the electorate on the no-confidence motion.

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