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Early General Elections likely as…APNU supports AFC’s no-confidence motion
By Zena Henry
It is likely that the country would be holding its General Elections very soon now that A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) has officially decided to lend its support to the Alliance For Change (AFC)’s proposed no-confidence motion against the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) government.
All eyes will be on what transpires in Parliament in the near future.
The coalition’s Communications Director, Mark Archer, told this newspaper that during a meeting of the shadow cabinet yesterday, the members deliberated on the no-confidence motion and decided to support it. Kaieteur News was told that the Partnership has seen the draft motion of the AFC and is in support of its direction.
General Secretary of the AFC, David Patterson, had written formally to the leader of the Coalition, Brigadier (Retired) David Granger explaining the position of the party. It is likely that as early as today, APNU will officially inform the AFC General Secretary, in writing, of the decision that was taken. It was noted further, that the necessary steps will be taken to pass down the message to all the coalition’s members before an official release is made public.
Talk of a no-confidence motion against the PPP government has lingered for months until recently, with the incumbent party telling the combined opposition to ‘put up or shut up’. The PPP’s General Secretary Clement Rohee had challenged the opposition parties to “demonstrate their testicular capacity by giving effect to their stated desire for a no-confidence motion in parliament, failing which they should shut up and forever hold their peace.”
The Combined Opposition, which gained a one-seat majority over the PPP government which has been in power for the past 22 years, has expressed repeated disappointment in the government, whom they claim has been involved in financial impropriety and failed to adhere to decisions of the House of Parliament among other things.
The AFC had indicated its move to the no-confidence motion against the PPP government since all of the changes that it bargained for in the development of the country have not been given an ear by the administration. The Finance Minister’s “violation of the law” by spending $4.5B of monies not approved by the National Assembly in the 2014 budget, among other issues, also fuelled the no-confidence motion. However, the AFC’s motion would have no effect if it did not have APNU’s support.
It was explained that if the motion is carried out, Parliament will be convened and the motion will be laid for debate by the two sides. With a resolution of no confidence against the Government, the President is constitutionally required to dissolve Parliament and make provision for the Executive, inclusive of himself, to resign within three months, after which an election must be called.
After the AFC delivered a letter to President Donald Ramotar expressing its intent to table the no-confidence motion against the Government, the Guyana Elections Commission, (GECOM) signaled publicly preparations for general polls. Once the President gives the word, GECOM has a period of some 90 days to ready the country for general polls.
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