— says shocked and betrayed by unforeseen vote

SHOCKED and betrayed were the two words used by the Alliance For Change (AFC) as it reacted to the move by its member Charrandas Persaud to vote in favour of the opposition-sponsored no-confidence motion against the A Partnership for National Unity + Alliance For Change (APNU+AFC) government.

Charrandas’ vote in the 65-member National Assembly was all that the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) needed to uproot the David Granger administration, and though he disappointed his colleagues on the governing side of the House, it was welcomed by those on the opposing side.

“The party can state, categorically, that at no time did Mr. Persaud express that he had lost confidence in the APNU+AFC coalition government, its policies, programmes and vision. To the contrary, he gave his solemn commitment, on more than one occasion that he will vote resoundingly against the motion,” AFC said in a statement on Saturday.

The statement was issued one day after Charrandas’ vote sent shocked waves throughout the country and ignited discussions to the effect that the AFC was fully aware that one of its Parliamentarians had been very disgruntled with the coalition government.
But the AFC on Saturday maintained that the Member of Parliament did not exhibit any sign of discontent.

“Just two weeks prior, Mr. Persaud voted in favour of Budget 2019 and the coalition government’s plans for development and progress for our beloved Guyana. Mr. Persaud also made a spirited, positive contribution to the debate in which he also denounced the opposition,” the AFC stated.

The alliance, which forms part of the coalition government, said it regrets the dissenting vote of MP Persaud and assured Guyanese that at no time did the party had any indication whatsoever, either from Persaud or otherwise, that he would vote in any way other than firmly against the motion.

“The AFC acknowledges that this unforeseen development would have come as a shock to many Guyanese in Guyana and the diaspora and those persons would be distraught and hurt by it,” the party said.
AFC’s Disciplinary Committee met on Saturday and expelled Persaud. As such, the party has initiated the process of his recall as a Member of Parliament.

Pursuant to the constitutional requirement for elections, the party has begun to plan, prepare and mobilise. “The AFC held an internal executive meeting today and will engage our supporters, our coalition partner A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) and the people of Guyana, on the way forward,” it said.

COMMITTED TO THE COALITION
The AFC is assuring its supporters and all Guyanese that it remains unwaveringly committed to the APNU+AFC coalition government. “The AFC reaffirms its commitment to the rule of law and reassures Guyanese that in this Yuletide season peace and goodwill will prevail. We extend best wishes for the season to all Guyanese,” AFC said.

The embattled MP, who reportedly flew out of Guyana on Saturday morning shortly after voting “yes” in favour of the no-confidence motion, told a pool of reporters that he was disgusted by the voiceless posture of the AFC in the coalition government.

“We are sitting in Parliament like yes men to APNU, and we are AFC, and we have not blended with APNU; the other parties have, we have not. The government is APNU+AFC, we have not blended, so why are we doing everything they want to do like passing former Prime Minister Hamilton Green’s Pension Bill,” Persaud told reporters.

In March 2017, the APNU+AFC government had used their one-seat majority in the House to pass former Prime Minister Hamilton Green’s Pension Bill – a move that sees him now receiving a monthly sum of $1.3M; but Persaud said he had openly objected only to have the AFC throw its support behind APNU.

“We are not opposing anything, we are not saying no to anything and that is what my problem is. I can’t stand that. As Jessica Levy, in the House of Commons in Great Britain, said there are times when you have to vote according to your conscience and not because of party affiliation. This is a conscience vote,” he said.

He also expressed disappointment that Leader of the AFC, Raphael Trotman, defended the Public Health Minister and Chairman of the People’s National Congress/Reform (PNC/R) Volda Lawrence when she found herself in hot water over statements that suggested that she engage in the hiring of PNC/R supporters.

MP Persaud also cited government’s decision to down-size the sugar industry, nothing that the lives of thousands of sugar workers were placed on the breadline.
“You destroyed the lives of sugar workers in a village and a district that I live in, and I can’t live with that. So if I die now, people may not be happy with what I have done, I will die a happy person and have a clear conscience,” he said.

Amid speculations that he was coerced or even paid by the PPP/C to vote against his Government, Persaud maintained that it was a conscience vote.

“I am not a PPP member. I am not affiliated to the PPP. This is not because of the PPP; this is because my conscience is now clear. My life may go but you know what I will die a happy person with a clear God damn conscience,” MP Persaud said. Persaud said he will be resigning from the National Assembly.