THE Alliance For Change’s (AFC) no-confidence motion, which was submitted to the Clerk of the National Assembly at the beginning of August, is being discussed at Cabinet level, as well as at the level of the ruling party’s executive.General-Secretary of the People’s Progressive Party (PPP), Clement Rohee, yesterday confirmed that the party was discussing the motion: “We are in the process of discussing it. The party is in the process of discussing the matter. We haven’t made any conclusions as yet. It is pretty early,” he said.
Meanwhile, President Donald Ramotar, last Friday at a news conference, noted that his Administration still has time to make a decision on the matter.
“I still have time to deal with this issue. This matter comes up in October…I will not make a decision prematurely,” he said.
The Head of State added that various actions that can be taken have been the subject of these discussions, although he noted that the consideration of legal recourse has not yet some up.
Mr. Ramotar said: “We are always discussing these things. These things are never off the table….we are discussing everything….if those suggestions come up, of course we will discuss it.”
Additionally, the Head of State highlighted that his Administration continues to work with various sector stakeholders. “We have constantly been working to bring people together, to work together.”
He also bemoaned what was termed “lip service” to the idea of working together, referencing moves by the combined Opposition to block the Government’s development thrust.
“What kind of government will that be, a government designed to stall development, stall progress in a country?
“…on issues like the AML/CFT Bill, they understand the importance, but their objective is to mainly damage Guyana more than anything else,” Mr. Ramotar said.
The President made it clear that regardless of the moves by the combined Opposition parties, A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) and the AFC, his Government and party stand ready to deal with the resulting consequences.
“I am sure that whenever elections are held, whether it is held tomorrow, whether it is held next week, or whether it is held in 2016, that [the] PPP will regain its majority in the National Assembly. I am confident about that…I have no doubt of that,” he stressed.
The first inkling the public had that the AFC planned moving a no-confidence motion against the Government was way back in mid-June, when party Vice-Chairman, Mr Moses Nagamootoo, hinted at it.
He did so by way of an article published in the Stabroek News and headlined, “AFC considering no-confidence motion against Gov’t.” He, however, acknowledged that to do so would require the support of the Main Opposition, A Partnership for National Unity (APNU).
The AFC finally got its wish on Tuesday, August 5, when APNU Leader, Brigadier (rtd.) David Granger, publicly confirmed that his party was fully behind the no-confidence motion.
The first page of the Motion reads: “Be it resolved that this National Assembly has no confidence in the Government.”
The Head of State, during a prior news conference, rather than commit himself to a definitive answer, simply stated that any decision related to the no-confidence motion, including the possibility of calling snap elections, will be made “at the appropriate time.”
According to the pundits, should snap elections not be called before a debate on the Motion, the current Administration is expected to be disbanded in preparation for a return to the polls.
As stated in Section 106 (6) of the Constitution: “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.”
This is made even clearer in Section 106 (7), which states: “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.”
The last time general elections were held in Guyana was in November 2011.

(By Vanessa Narine )