THE combined opposition, A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) and the Alliance For Change (AFC), have both made it clear that there will be no dialogue with Government during the period that the Parliament is prorogued.

“The joint opposition has resolved that there will be no extra-parliamentary engagement with the President on the matters which were before the National Assembly,” the two parties said in a joint statement after a meeting on Tuesday.

President Donald Ramotar announced his decision to prorogue Parliament in an address to the nation on Monday. To prorogue Parliament essentially means that the current session is suspended for up to a maximum of six months in a move that is provided for in Section 70 (1) of Guyana’s Constitution.

The Head of State also made it clear that his intention was to give dialogue a chance to address the impasses that have invaded the political arena since the 2011 elections, rather than have Parliament dissolved, as promised by the combined opposition via the Alliance For Change-sponsored no-confidence motion.

After Tuesday’s meeting, the APNU and AFC were emphatic in their rejection of the President’s decision. “The National Assembly is the highest and principal forum in which the people’s business is discussed. The President has unilaterally shut this down and has, by his actions, extinguished any prospect of discussions with the opposition on the country’s business,” the statement said.

According to the two parties, President Ramotar’s reasoning that prorogation would allow dialogue to address the prevailing political impasses is a “spurious” excuse. As such, the two parties have agreed that they would embark upon a series of measures aimed at restoring the National Assembly as the most appropriate venue for discussion and consideration of the affairs of the state and its people.

“The APNU and AFC will also alert the international community, foreign missions and international and domestic business communities that any contract other than contracts for the supply of essential goods and services entered into by the current administration during the period of peroration (would) be subject to review and possible rescission upon the election of a new administration,” the parties said. APNU and AFC have also since called for the support of the Guyanese public to end the prorogation of Parliament.

Noteworthy is the fact that President Ramotar has made it clear that if talks fail with the combined Opposition, he would not hesitate to move to early general elections, since he does not intend to prorogue Parliament again.

“I have taken this step with the hope that the time gained would be used for the benefit of our people…. Were these entreaties of cooperation by my government to be unsuccessful, I would then take the necessary steps for the holding of early General Elections, so that the democratic will of our people can be freely exercised,” President Ramotar has said.