President Donald Ramotar yesterday said that his decision to prorogue Parliament was his “sole recourse” to preserving the life of the 10th Parliament and to bring an end to the opposition’s “political gamesmanship.”
In a live television broadcast one hour before Parliament was set to reconvene, Ramotar in an address to the nation, undertook to assure that the six months that the prorogation guarantees will be used to engage the parliamentary opposition in “constructive ways” on matters of national importance. He said that if no agreement for “normalcy” is reached then he would have no choice but to hold early general elections.
It was just before 9 am that the President sent a notice to Clerk of the National Assembly Sherlock Isaacs which contained the proclamation for the prorogation of Parliament. In some quarters, this was an expected move which can possibly lead to Guyana facing a constitutional crisis.
Ramotar stated that in his address to the nation last Tuesday he had indicated “our [the government’s] desire for the National Assembly, in its post-recess sittings, to deliberate and give priority to important matters relating to the development of our country and the future of all of our people.” He said he extended a “hand to the opposition for us to put the nation’s business first rather than political gamesmanship.”
He said he further advised that should he be provided with reasons to believe that the parliamentary opposition intended to disrupt government’s business by forcing a debate on their no confidence motion, “I resolved to respond immediately by exercising my constitutional options to either prorogue or dissolve Parliament paving the way for holding of general elections.”
Within the last few days both leaders of the opposition party expressed their commitment to the ensuing debate on the motion and its subsequent passage. The motion was listed in the Order Paper for yesterday’s sitting.
The President stated that consistent with his earlier position and in accordance with powers conferred on him by Article 70 (1) of the Constitution of the Republic of Guyana, he “earlier today issued a proclamation proroguing the 10th Parliament.”
He said his “decision to exercise this constitutional option was not taken lightly, but it was the sole recourse that was left to me to ensure that the life of the 10th Parliament was preserved.”
According to the President it is no secret that the parliamentary opposition parties had, at every conceivable opportunity, “made known their clear intention to have their motion of no confidence against my government debated instantly at the first post-recess sitting which was called for today, November 10. Their one-seat majority in Parliament could only mean its passage and the immediate irreversible dissolution of Parliament.”
He stated that his appeals to return to normalcy, to constructively address the many important issues confronting us in Guyana, appear to have fallen on deaf ears. This in part contributed to his decision yesterday.
“The opposition in Parliament intends to end the life of the 10th Parliament with immediate effect, dashing all hopes for urgent attention to issues relating to economic growth, social services and yes, the holding of local government elections,” he said. The opposition, particularly the APNU, has been pushing for the long overdue election for months now. Many in civil society and the international community have expressed their support in this regard.
The President stated that some may question government’s decision to go this constitutional route and not along with the debate. “The answer lies in the practical choice between an atmosphere of confrontation, as the no confidence motion debate would fuel, or that of possible accommodation, as a prorogued Parliament can facilitate, if there is a genuine intent on all sides,” he stated.
“I also want to assure all that my decision ensures that the life of the 10th Parliament is preserved up to a maximum of 6 months, as permitted by the Constitution of Guyana. I pledge to you, to have my administration use that time during the period of prorogation to continue to engage the parliamentary opposition in constructive ways, in addressing the issues confronting Guyana,” the President told the nation.
He however said that it is his “genuine desire to have the prorogation of the 10th Parliament ended sooner were my government and the opposition to reach an agreement for a return to normalcy.
“Further were these entreaties of cooperation by my government to be unsuccessful, I would then take the necessary steps for the holding of early general elections so that the democratic will of our people can be freely exercised.”
He assured that during the period of prorogation the government will continue to attend to the provision of basic goods and services. “Your government intends to abide strictly to the constitutional provisions relating to this period. I will not allow any interruption of the stability and progress of our nation” adding that all stakeholders will be kept abreast of developments.
“Fellow Guyanese, I have taken this step with the hope that the time gained would be used for the benefit our people. I wish to appeal to all for political maturity and the exercise of good judgment to put Guyana, our blessed nation, and, its people first,” he said.
Meanwhile, the Private Sector Commission said in a statement yesterday that it was “concerned and disappointed that the continued absence of political compromise between our government and the opposition has led to this abnormal situation. It is obviously not a situation conducive to a stable business environment or encouraging to business investment. We can only hope that good sense will prevail and that the national interests predominate over potentially destructive narrow political intent.”
Ramotar last Tuesday had threatened to prorogate or dissolve Parliament if the opposition proceeded with a debate of a no-confidence motion against his government. However, the opposition was unmoved and vowed that they planned to press on with their business in the interest of the people. Opposition Leader Granger went as far as to describe the President’s threat as a “cowardly way out”. Moments after Ramotar’s address to the nation in which he also announced yesterday at the date for the reconvening of Parliament and the holding of local government elections in the second quarter of 2015, Granger told Stabroek News that the president’s decision to “run away” means that he is not prepared to defend his administration’s record. He stated too that the president and his government failed to negotiate in good faith, were unreasonable and failed to pay attention to the opposition’s calls.
Granger reiterated that this is not a “democratic answer but a dictatorship answer” before adding that it is “a coward’s way out.”
