– with regard to ‘no confidence’ motion

OCTOBER 16, although not confirmed, seems to be the date for a “historic move” on the Alliance For Change (AFC) sponsored no-confidence motion, according to the party’s General-Secretary, Mr. David Patterson.

In a statement on the AFC’s page, hosted on the popular social media site, Facebook, he said, “The end is near!! Just came out of a meeting with APNU – and they have GUARANTEED support for the AFC No Confidence Motion when Parliament reconvenes next week!! Mark this date October 16, 2014 – History shall be made!”
Patterson’s comment follows a meeting between the AFC and the main Opposition party, A Partnership for National Unity (APNU), to discuss the motion, yesterday.
Leader of the AFC, Mr. Khemraj Ramjattan, up to press time, was unavailable to comment on the indicated date of October 16.

Also, a press statement issued by the party, last evening, made no mention of such a date, but said, “The Alliance For Change (AFC) and A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) today (yesterday) re-affirmed their unwavering commitment to passing the vote of no confidence against the Government at the earliest sitting of the National Assembly.”

UNAWARE OF DATE
Meanwhile General-Secretary of APNU, Mr. Joseph Harmon, declined any knowledge of October 16 being discussed as a date.
“I have seen some reports citing this as the date for something to happen, but I am not sure where that came from. The date for a sitting is something that the Chief Whips have to sit down and work out,” he said.
Additionally, Mr. Harmon stated that his party will support the no-confidence motion whenever it comes up. “We have agreed that we will support the motion; that was the thrust of the meeting. When the motion comes up we will support it,” he told the Guyana Chronicle, yesterday.
He also made it clear that APNU maintains its call for local government elections.
“Local government elections are a requirement of the Constitution. The no-confidence motion is one that must go through phases, with a debate and what not, and there is nothing saying that we cannot have two elections in one year,” Mr. Harmon said.
The APNU General-Secretary added that both elections can happen in 2015. “I do not think elections will happen this year,” he said.
Working with the 2015 timeframe, Mr. Harmon posited that if no date for local government elections is set and the no-confidence motion is passed general elections will take precedence over local government elections.
Yesterday’s meeting was held at the office of the Leader of the Opposition, Hadfield Street. The AFC delegation included Mr. Ramjattan; AFC Vice-Chairman, Mr. Moses Nagamootoo, Ms. Catherine Hughes and Mr. Patterson. Representing the APNU were Leader of the Opposition Brigadier (Ret’d) David Granger, Dr. Rupert Roopnarine, Mr. Basil Williams, Ms. Amna Ally, Mr. Ronald Bulkan and Mr. Winston Felix.
Both parties have agreed that the no confidence motion should take precedence over all other matters on the parliamentary agenda when the National Assembly re-convenes after October 10, when the House’s recess ends.
The first page of the no-confidence motion reads: “Be it resolved that this National Assembly has no confidence in the Government.” It was seconded by AFC Executive Member and Member of Parliament (MP) Mrs. Cathy Hughes.
In mid-June, the party’s Vice-Chairman Mr. Moses Nagamootoo hinted at the possibility of the motion. 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’s position was strengthened on Tuesday, August 5, when APNU Leader Brigadier (rtd.) David Granger publicly confirmed that his party was fully behind the no confidence motion.
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, (approve); and shall resign after a new President takes the oath of office following the election.”