…Dr. Luncheon asks with regard to the no-confidence motion against the Gov’t

SO FAR as the intended Alliance For Change (AFC) no-confidence motion against the Government is concerned, Cabinet Secretary, Dr. Roger Luncheon said the real issue at present would be the significance of the “AFC going at it alone.”

Cabinet was not unmindful of the rather “solitary” approach of the AFC in terms of its declaration, Luncheon said yesterday at his weekly post-Cabinet press briefing at the Office of the President in Georgetown.
The declaration was solitary in the sense that the motion was reportedly considered by the joint parliamentary Opposition, Luncheon explained.
“The declaration, however, was made and made only by the AFC. The Guyanese were indeed awaiting what would be the eventual position of the joint parliamentary Opposition and indeed would no doubt have to read and understand what is the implication, what is the significance of AFC alone making this declaration. The issue for the Government, the issue for interested observers would be the significance of the AFC going it alone,” he said.
Furthermore, this must be taken in the context, also, of A Partnership for National Unity’s (APNU) position. APNU had entered into a compromise agreement with the administration seeking to have a conclusion of matters surrounding, on one hand, their bills that had not been assented to by the President and on the other, CFATF/FATF compliant legislation.
“Putting it frankly, their commitment was if the AFC and Government engagement was not mutually resolved, APNU and the Government agreement was of no value, no worth, null and void. APNU’s contention was that you had to have AFC on board. That instance, in particular, gave us additional cause to consider what significance could be applied to AFC going it alone.”
Luncheon further informed that it was Cabinet’s reasoning that one should not be dismissive of the indications of this very small party with seven seats confronting the administration with 32 seats.
A few days ago the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) described as totally baseless, spurious and constitutionally incorrect the intended motion by the AFC as indicated in a letter to President Donald Ramotar.
Speaking on Government’s behalf during an interview on the National Communications Network (NCN), Presidential Adviser on Governance, Gail Teixeira said that the administration is fully prepared to face any such parliamentary action which may be brought against it by the political Opposition.
The letter which was sent to the President indicated that the AFC would seek to move the motion to “force the Government’s resignation.” The supposed “forced resignation” indicated by the AFC was also put to rest by the Presidential Adviser, who noted that Constitutional Articles 106(6) and 106(7), state that should the no-confidence motion be approved, the President and Cabinet will continue to serve until the results of any election is announced and certified.
Teixeira said that while the letter quoted Article 166 of the Constitution, it curiously failed to mention Article 218(3) and the Chief Justice’s ruling in the budget cut court case. Both of these clearly define the role of the Finance Minister and his constitutional options for accessing funds, a move which the AFC has described as unconstitutional and even sought to have the Guyana Police Force investigate.

(By Telesha Ramnarine)