Dear Editor,
The United Republican Party notes with serious concern the current action of the coalition APNU+AFC government to defy the will of the parliament which on December 21 approved the no confidence motion brought by the Opposition Leader. We strongly condemn the government’s move to seek to annul a legitimate vote passed by the parliament against the government. The government’s action smacks of authoritarianism. We cannot stand in silence to let this violation of democratic norms occur.
We join other democratic loving Guyanese (and organizations) calling on the government to accept the passage of the no confidence motion and take immediate action to implement what the constitution mandates — resignation.
There is no doubt that the government lost the no confidence vote, and it must therefore do the honourable thing that happens when a government is defeated in such a motion – resign and do so immediately. The convention after losing a confidence motion is resignation that occurs within 72 hours. It is now 10 days and the government has failed to abide by the constitution or parliamentary convention suggesting it is seeking to hold on to power illegally ultra vires the constitution and democratic conventions in the Westminster system. To seek to hold on to power by appealing to a Speaker it appointed to reverse the no confidence vote outcome or through the court is undemocratic. To hold on to power, other than being a caretaker through elections, would defy the constitution that the government swore to honour.
For the Speaker to entertain a motion from the coalition for a re-vote would make Guyana a laughing stock in the world.
Also, the attempt by the coalition to redefine what constitutes a majority (with a half-man theory) is at best a spurious argument and we reject it outright.
The APNU+AFC must comply with the constitution and immediately resign. To not resign and hold elections would confirm the worst fears of people that APNU+AFC is undemocratic and cannot be trusted with power.
Yours faithfully,
Dr. Vishnu Bandhu
Leader of the United Republican
Party
