Parliament has not yet been dissolved, so it is not dead

Oct 05, 2019 Letters

DEAR EDITOR,

I am referring to a letter that was published in the Kaieteur News dated September28, 2019, titled, “The National Assembly died on 18 September, 2019; it cannot be resurrected” by Joshua Singh.
In that letter, Singh where he stated “The life of the National Assembly ended on 18 September 2019 as a result of the non-extension of its life by a two-thirds vote as required by the Constitution”.
Let me remind the Singh’s who want to remove the Coalition Government by any means necessary that, Article 106(7) stipulates that “Notwithstanding its defeat, the Government shall remain in office and shall hold an election within three months, or such longer period as the National Assembly shall by resolution supported by not less than two-thirds of the votes of all the elected members of the National Assembly determine, and shall resign after the President takes the oath of office following the election”.
Hence the government is legally and constitutionally in caretaker/interim mode. However, as the government continues to govern, the caretaker/interim Opposition Leader has abandoned his post along with his members of Parliament. These parliamentarians no longer care about day-to-day governance and the National Assembly, even though they continue to receive monthly salaries and daily enjoy the privileges/benefits of their office.
President Granger on September 25, 2019, in his address to the nation, announced that after discussions with Chairman of the Elections Commission Ret’d Justice Claudette Singh and with his Cabinet, General and Regional Elections will be on Monday, 2nd March 2020.
The President’s statement followed Chairman of the Elections Commission Justice Claudette Singh’s missive to him on September19, 2019, indicating that, “the Guyana Elections Commission will be able to deliver credible elections by the end of February 2020”.
Since it is not in the interest of the PPP/C to put Guyana and its people first, the president in his continued position of upholding the constitution for the conduct of free, fair and credible elections, President David Granger has since issued two proclamations for the holding of General and Regional Elections on Monday, 2nd March 2020.
The President, by the power vested in him by Article 61 of the Constitution of Guyana, by proclamation, appointed March 02, 2020 as the day on which an election of members of the National Assembly shall be held.
The Constitution at Article 61 states: “An election of members of the National Assembly under Article 60 (2) shall be held on such day within three months after every dissolution of Parliament as the President shall appoint by proclamation.”
Similarly, President Granger has proclaimed March 02, 2020, the same day as appointed under Article 61 of the Constitution for the holding of elections of members of the National Assembly, as the day on which elections of members of the Regional Democratic Councils shall be held.
Article 73 (2) of the Constitution states: “Elections of members of regional democratic councils shall be held and the councils shall be dissolved at such times as, subject to paragraph (3), the President may appoint by proclamation.”
So, Mr. Singh the parliament has not yet been dissolved, so it is not dead, the life of the National Assembly did not end September 18. If it is accurately dead, why then are PPP/C MPs still collecting salaries from a dead parliament?

Sincerely yours,
Ceion Rollox

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