In July 2012, when the debate on the Opposition’s no confidence motion against Minister Clement Rohee had begun, Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs Anil Nandlall had advised the National Assembly that only the President can remove a minister from office and that Article 183 of the Constitution states on what grounds such an official can be removed. He further advised that neither the Speaker nor the National Assembly has the power under the Constitution to deny an elected member of the National Assembly his right to speak in the House.
In his ruling issued yesterday on the gag on Minister Rohee, Speaker of the National Assembly Raphael Trotman stated that Minister Rohee’s right to speak in the House has been restored on the premise that the National Assembly cannot refuse to entertain a member who is appointed by the Executive President as a minister, except as permitted by the Constitution.
AG Nandlall, in an invited comment to the Government Information Agency (GINA) on the Speaker’s ruling, stated , “I wish to firstly congratulate the Speaker of the National Assembly for rising above partisan politics and for discharging the functions of his office by upholding the Constitution of Guyana without fear or favour.”
He said that the government’s position that a member of the National Assembly has a right to speak in the National Assembly, which is grounded in the constitution, and which the National Assembly has no power to deprive a member of, has been vindicated.
“The Attorney General first advised. The court pronounced and now the Speaker has conclusively ruled. I expect that this matter will finally be put to rest and partisan and vindictive pursuits must now bend and bow to the glory of the Constitution and the rule of law as adumbrated by both the Chief Justice of the country and the Speaker of the National Assembly,” the AG stated.
Mr. Nandlall said the Constitution, the rule of law, parliamentary democracy and the law-abiding people of Guyana are the eventual victors. (GINA)