Granger nullified no confidence vote

Nov 15, 2019 Letters

Dear Editor,

Reference your “Dem Boys Seh” commentary (November 8) on elections date and related reports and commentaries (varied dates), much has been written on or about an early date resulting from the no confidence motion (NCM).
President (David) Granger is credited by critics for nullifying the consequences of the NCM. Analysts say he has come across as politically savvy and open to engage other parties to maximize support.
Those of us who studied (are studying) political science (the subject that deals with government and politicking) analyze politically related events such as the no-confidence motion in terms of consequences.
For the NCM, political scientists analyze what are the results — who (which party) won and who lost and which side achieved its objective (goal), and what is the political projection for the future.
So just who or which party or political force won the December 21 no confidence motion?
Some 11 months later, Guyanese feel the Coalition won.
Many among the political elite and business community as well as scholars tell me that the Opposition has been outfoxed, outwitted, and outsmarted every step of the way on the proceedings of the NCM.
They say President Granger and his government played their card as a winner. They had effective, competent, shrewd advisors that nullified the effects of NCM. The President and government listened to advisors.
Did the Opposition have advisors and did they listen to or pay heed to advisors?
The Government played for time to improve to improve their prospects at re-election.
In terms of numbers, the ruling Coalition lost and the opposition won — 32-33.
The Coalition lost the battle but won the war. The Coalition won because the NCM did not remove it from office, and it continues to function as a normal government just for two months short of its full term in office.
The Constitution requires (language is clear) that the side that loses a no-confidence motion to resign immediately, serve as a caretaker, don’t engage in new projects, and hold elections within three months.
That did not happen. Some 11 months later, the Coalition has remained in office as though everything is normal.
Parliamentary practices in democratic countries dictate that the Parliament ceases to function when a NCM is successful.
The Speaker cannot summon the Parliament unless it is to extend its life. But yet the Guyana Parliament met and passed bills and plans to meet again to approve a government budget or funding – unprecedented and a mockery of parliamentary traditions and the constitution itself. The government will remain in office at least through the elections date on March 2 and probably longer if the date for elections is changed (through a Constitutional challenge) which is a high probability given all the shenanigans at GECOM.
So while the opposition (and Charandass Persaud) celebrated the fall of the government, in reality and in fact, the Government has not been defeated, and it has achieved its objective of serving a full term that should have been shortened by fifteen months.
The Coalition remains in office carrying out its program (mandate) and preparing for re-election.
The Coalition’s re-election, regardless of how it occurs, cannot be dismissed. Those of us in the know have a good understanding of politics, voting, and elections.
Clearly, it does not take deep thinking, not brain science, to know which party really won the NCM.
Did the Opposition achieve its goal? The official Opposition has to rethink its political strategy and its relationship with the other (minor) opposition parties.
Some parties could find themselves permanently in the opposition and ineffective if they fail to pursue a workable winnable strategy.
Vishnu Bisram (PhD)

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Granger nullified no confidence vote

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