PRESIDENT Donald Ramotar has, after careful consideration, decided that he will not assent to Opposition piloted bills, which has been a concern of A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) Leader David Granger.

At a People’s Progressive Party (PPP) media briefing at Freedom House on Robb Street, Georgetown, on Monday, General Secretary, Clement Rohee said the Head of State has complied with the procedure which the Constitution outlines when he decides to withhold his assent.
The two bills, which were piloted by the Opposition and to which APNU is particularly pressing the President to assent, are the Former Presidents (Benefits and other Facilities) Bill 2012 and the Fiscal Management and Accountability (Amendment) Bill 2012.
According to Rohee, the President’s reasons for withholding his approval are not political in nature and, as listed in his letter to the Speaker,are all grounded in the Constitution itself.
“The President has a duty to ensure that the Constitution is not violated. The party supports the President in standing up against these threats by APNU, which are purely designed to bully the Head of State into passing unconstitutional motions,” said the General Secretary.

THE UTTERANCES
Rohee said the PPP continues to monitor the utterances of Granger and his APNU leadership in their effort to divert attention from their actions in the National Assembly, regarding their vote against critical pieces of legislation which would have, significantly, advanced the Amaila Falls Hydropower Project (AFHP) but directly led to the withdrawal of Sithe Global from “the most significant project in Guyana’s history.”
The AFHP has been doubtful since Sithe Global, a major investor, withdrew from the project, citing the need for national consensus, following the non-support of the major Opposition party, APNU, for amendments to the Hydroelectric Act and a motion to increase the debt ceiling on external loans, both of which were critical to the venture.
Rohee stated, further, that the claims by Granger, which were published in the September 1 edition of the Stabroek News, regarding the President’s non-assent to Opposition-piloted bills have been raised in the past and have, effectively, been addressed by the Government.
“The aspects of where the Opposition bills collide with the Constitution and existing laws have been fully ventilated,” he maintained.
He said it has already been pointed out that not every bill which passes through the National Assembly is automatically assented to by the President.

LATITUDINAL POWER
Rohee noted that the Constitution gives the President a latitudinal power of discretion as to whether he will assent or not.
With regard to Granger’s claim that the law is very clear on the issue and they hold the Government in default, the PPP said, “If APNU feels so convinced that its position is grounded in law, why has it not approached the High Court after making threats to do just that, since May, this year, at one of its press conferences?
“The PPP is convinced that, rather than grandstand and create all manner of political illusions to distract from their failings, APNU needs to “man up” and play a meaningful and responsible role in the development of our nation,” Rohee asserted.