…GMSA urges business community to maintain atmosphere of peace, harmony

THE Guyana Manufacturing and Services Association (GMSA) is urging the business community to maintain an atmosphere of peace and harmony as the country awaits the final determination on the validity of the No-Confidence Motion moved against the Government.

In a statement on Monday, GMSA said that until the final determination is made at the Caribbean Court of Justice, the decision of the Court of Appeal should be respected fully. On Friday March 22, the Appeal Court, by a 2-1 margin, ruled that the No-Confidence Motion was not validly passed on the grounds that the Opposition needed an absolute majority of 34 votes or more and not 33.

GMSA also used its platform to urge all Guyanese to allow for normalcy to prevail.
“Our Association urges all Guyanese, especially those persons in the Business Community, to continue to conduct their daily affairs in an atmosphere of peace, harmony and tranquility which is generally supportive of all business endeavours,” the association said.
It added: “It remains our fervent hope that the final outcome in this particular difficult period of our political history would offer appropriate solutions to our quest for economic and social development of benefit to the Guyanese people.”

The Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) will hear all three cases challenging the Court of Appeal’s decisions on May 10.

Unlike the Georgetown Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI) and the Private Sector Commission, the GMSA did not indicate that the current political climate had an effect on business. President David Granger, on commenting on the issue, indicated that “everything that has happened since the 21st of December has been logical, and, on the part of the Government, it has been within the framework of the law.” Business in the country continues as usual.