THE Community Council of Ministers on Friday expressed satisfaction that the prorogation of Parliament did not breach the Constitution, nor did not constitute a deviation from the principles of the Commonwealth Charter.

The consensus followed an update provided by Guyana’s Foreign Affairs Minister, Ms. Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett, at the Council’s meeting held at the CARICOM Secretariat, Georgetown, Guyana.
Prior to Friday’s update, the Government of Guyana had formally advised the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) of the prorogation and the reason for this course of action.
Ms. Rodrigues-Birkett also advised of the imminent announcement of elections by the President of Guyana.
President Ramotar has always maintained that the need for dialogue was uppermost in his mind when he made his decision to Prorogue Parliament on November 10.
Paving the way for greater dialogue among political parties, he contends, would have kept the 10th Parliament alive to address critically important issues currently before the House.
The effect of ending the first session of the 10th Parliament by way of prorogation is the suspension of the business of the National Assembly.
As a result, the Alliance For Change (AFC) sponsored ‘No-Confidence’ motion was not considered. A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) had, prior to November 10, signalled its intent to support the motion.
Had it not been for the proclamation to prorogue Parliament and the no-confidence motion approved by the political Opposition, Guyana would have been headed to early general elections within three months.
However, President Ramotar has made it clear that if these efforts prove futile, there will be a move to early general elections.