LIKE many the vote left the government Members of Parliament (MPs) reeling in shock. Upper Demerara-Berbice (Region 10) Regional MP, Jermaine Figueira who was sitting next to Persaud at the time, was the first to question Charandass Persaud seconds after he voted for the motion.

Figueira thought that perhaps Persaud was confused as to what he was supposed to say if he was voting against the motion. However, seconds later Figueira’s greatest fear was confirmed when Persaud informed that he was making a “conscience vote”, and reaffirmed his stance with another three “yes” supporting the motion.

“I was shocked. I thought he didn’t know how the government was voting that’s why I touched him I said: Charandass? Obviously I was dumbfounded, flabbergasted to say the least,” Figueira shared.

“I really wanted to know if he didn’t hear [how] the other MPs for the government were voting so I touched him I said Charan is no we saying so why is it you’re saying yes? And he said is a conscience vote and I said is not a conscience vote you are voting the position taken by the government which is not to support the No-Confidence Motion. This is not time for a no-confidence motion. He looked like he was somewhat puzzled, perplexed… we all were shocked due to the fact that we had a caucus before and there was no dissenting voice.”

With the motion now passed, according to the Constitution the government has to call elections within 90 days (three months) or at such a time that two-thirds of the National Assembly agrees with.

In the event that the country must go to elections in the first quarter of next year Figueira is confident that the coalition government has the support of his Upper Demerara-Berbice Region, notwithstanding a low turnout at last month’s Local Government Elections (LGEs).
“We have to come to the realisation that a comparison of LGE and national elections is totally two different elections. I am very much confident and persuaded that the people of Region 10 understand very much the importance of us retaining the government, and I am very much confident that they will give their unwavering support to us when elections are called,” Figueira said.

His sentiments were echoed by Essequibo Island-West Demerara’s Regional MP, John Adams about the hosting of early elections next year. Adams believes the APNU/AFC’s government’s track record will speak for itself.

“All has not been lost. I’m positive that what we have done as a government so far the Guyanese people are going to judge us. Despite what the opposition would’ve said people have not forgotten what the PPP administration did in their 23 years in government, so I have all confidence that the Guyanese people are going to judge us when we go to the polls and I’m positive that we are going to be victorious again as we were last time around,” Adams stated.

Like Figueira, he too is left reeling from Persaud’s blow to the party.

“It was unexpected. I thought he made a mistake since everybody else was voting yes, [but] then he said yes out three times which confirmed what he was saying and as his colleagues we were saying: Charandass, what’s wrong? What’s wrong? He was bent on saying yes. Then I said well Charandass is with the opposition and as long as he voted with the opposition we knew that it would’ve been 33 against 32 and that the motion would’ve been carried,” Adams noted.