-PSC consulting with members on impact of passage of the Motion

THE Private Sector Commission (PSC) is currently engaged in consultations with its membership on the likely impacts of the passage of the Alliance For Change (AFC)’s ‘No-Confidence Motion.This was according to PSC’s chairman, Mr. Ramesh Persaud, who in June, when the intention for such a move was expressed, noted it would be an unfortunate move, which will signal political instability to Guyana’s foreign investors, financiers, customers and suppliers.
The AFC’s ‘No-Confidence Motion was formally handed over on Thursday to the Clerk of the National Assembly, Mr. Sherlock Isaacs, by the party’s General-Secretary, David Patterson.
The Motion was proposed by AFC vice-chairman, Mr. Moses Nagamootoo, and seconded by AFC executive member, Mrs. Cathy Hughes.
The first page of the document reads: “Be it resolved that this National Assembly has no confidence in the Government.”
The notion of a no-confidence motion was first voiced by Nagamootoo in mid-June, when he indicated that the AFC was considering taking that course of action against the Government. Nagamootoo, in an article published in the Stabroek News, under the headline ‘AFC considering no-confidence motion against Gov’t,’ said such a move is seriously being contemplated by his party. However, he acknowledged that a no-confidence motion would have to be supported by the Main Opposition.
Last Friday APNU (A Partnership for National Unity) endorsed this possibility as a serious consideration.
Opposition leader Brigadier (Rtd.) David Granger on Wednesday confirmed APNU’s support for the AFC’s no-confidence motion against the Government, and together the combined Opposition is expected to address the Motion in October, when the National Assembly comes out of recess.
Head of the Presidential Secretariat (HPS), Dr. Roger Luncheon, at a news conference on Wednesday stated that a call for snap elections from the Head of State during the two-month recess, before the motion is tabled, is not impossible.
“Nothing is impossible; nothing is impossible…I don’t believe it is a question of strategy that determines the response to a no-confidence motion,” he said.

READY FOR ELECTIONS
President Donald Ramotar, at his most recent press conference, made it clear that the ruling party is in a state of readiness in the event of “any” elections, be it local government or general elections.
“We have said that we are ready and we have to be ready. We have to be ready because we have a one-seat minority in the National Assembly. The joint Opposition has one seat more than we; therefore it means that at any time they can pass a no-confidence motion. From that point of view, we have to always be ready for any elections,” he said.
The Head of State also maintained that his Government will not be threatened by talk of a no-confidence motion, a sentiment he expressed when the notion of a no-confidence move against his Government was first raised.
“If the Opposition wants to bring a no-confidence motion I cannot stop them from bringing a no-confidence motion, but I will be ready to deal with the consequences of that,” Mr. Ramotar said.
Section 106 (6) of the Constitution states that: “The Cabinet and President shall resign if the Government is defeated by the vote of the majority of all Members of the National Assembly on a vote of confidence.”
However, the following paragraph, Section 106 (7) makes clear 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 no less than two-thirds of all elected members of the National Assembly, and shall resign after a new President takes the oath of office following the election.”

(By Vanessa Narine)