…Interception of Communications, Procurement Amendment bills to be tabled

THE National Assembly will meet next Friday after several months following the no- confidence motion vote on December 21, 2018.

When it meets next week House Speaker, Dr Barton Scotland will likely make pronouncements on those Members of Parliament who have resigned due to holding dual citizenship. Among them are: Vice President and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Carl Greenidge; Minister of State, Joseph Harmon; Minister of Business, Dominic Gaskin; and former Minister of Public Service and Education, Dr. Rupert Roopnaraine.

The Parliamentary Opposition – the People’s Progressive Party’s Chief Whip Gail Teixeira has reportedly resigned as well as her colleague, Adrian Anamayah, both of whom are dual citizens. It is unclear whether Odinga Lumumba, another dual citizen in the Parliament on the opposition side of the House, has resigned. However, the Parliamentary Opposition has long indicated that they will not attend the Sitting of the National Assembly until the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) hands down its decision on the validity of the No-Confidence Motion, which, according to the Court of Appeal, failed when it was put to a vote on December 21, 2018.

The No-Confidence Motion, which ignited a legal battle in the Court among the Government, the Opposition and other interested parties, has brought to the fore the issue of dual citizenship in the House. While ruling in a case brought by Compton Reid, a resident of Berbice, against recalled Member of Parliament Charrandass Persaud, Chief Justice Roxane George-Wilshire noted that it was unconstitutional for a person with dual citizenship status to occupy a seat in the National Assembly. It was pointed out that Article 155 (1) of the Constitution states that “no person shall be qualified for election as a member of the National Assembly who (a) is, by virtue of his or her own act, under any acknowledgement of allegiance, obedience or adherence to a foreign power or state.” Reid’s attorneys have argued that Persaud, a citizen of Canada, ought not to have been in Parliament on the night of the vote, and breached the Constitution when he accepted election to the House, knowing very well that he had dual citizenship. The Court of Appeal made similar pronouncements.

On April 2, President David Granger accepted the resignation of the four dual citizen Government Ministers as a strong indication that the Government will continue to uphold the Constitution of Guyana, and the decisions of the courts.

He had indicated that, by virtue of their resignation, they will not return to Parliament when it next reconvenes, and are required to relinquish their ministerial portfolios.
“The Government of Guyana is committed to the upholding of the Constitution of Guyana and by virtue, the March 22, 2019 ruling of the Court of Appeal on the December 21, 2018 Motion of No Confidence, which was brought against the Government,” the Ministry of the President stated.

Thus far, a replacement for one of the four ministers has been identified. However, the coalition member is awaiting confirmation from President Granger. The Working People’s Alliance – a member of the five-party coalition – has nominated Tabitha Sarabo-Halley to replace Dr. Roopnaraine.

Sarabo-Halley was among three – the other two being Desmond Trotman and Rishi Thakur – listed on the A Partnership for National Unity + Alliance for Change (APNU+AFC) top up list. Sarabo-Halley’s nomination is a strong signal to the country that WPA is prepared to lead the way in investing in a new generation of leaders,” a source told the Guyana Chronicle.

The source added “we feel strongly that it is time to begin the transition. It is time we move beyond the rhetoric about youth leadership and embrace it as a matter of policy.” The AFC and the People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR) have not indicated who will replace their MPs.

Meanwhile, when the National Assembly meets, six bills will be introduced and read for the first time. These bills are: Interception of Communications (Amendment) Bill, Procurement (Amendment) Bill, Customs and Trade Single Window System Bill, Custom (Amendment of Schedules) Bill, National Accreditation Council (Amendment) Bill and National Accreditation Council Act 2004 (Validation) Bill. Additionally, the Petroleum (Exploration and Production) (Tax Laws) (Tullow Guyana B.V., Eco (Atlantic) Guyana Inc. and Total E and P Guyana BV) will be laid before the house among other documents and reports.