BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – FOR the first time in the history of Guyana, since the South American English-speaking country became an independent nation, its Parliament has been prorogued.
News coming out of that country stated that yesterday (Nov. 10) President Donald Ramotar opted to suspend the 10th Parliament rather than face a No Confidence Motion against his government that was filed by the Opposition, which has a one-seat majority in the Honourable House.
According to a Kaieteur News’ Editorial, “On November 4, 2014, President Ramotar addressed the nation. In that address he stared at the no confidence motion which, if passed, would have forced him to call general elections in three months. From his perspective, there were Bills crucial to national development that needed to be debated before any no confidence motion could be accommodated.”
It is reported that no Government Parliamentarian was present in the Chambers when the Speaker of the House, Raphael Trotman, officially informed the Opposition members that the President had prorogued Parliament.
Trotman reported to the House that at approximately 8:45 yesterday morning he was informed by the Clerk of the National Assembly that he was in receipt of an envelope from the Office of the President.
On arrival at the Public Buildings in company with the Deputy Speaker, Trotman saw that the President had issued a proclamation proroguing Parliament, to which he declared that the Guyana Parliament is now the most interesting one in the region, if not in the world.
“The power of the elected office of the peoples’ representatives has been neutered; this is also in my opinion most undemocratic”, Trotman reportedly said, adding that the illegality perpetuated by the President is compounded by the fact that no date has been set to reconvene the Parliament.
In the absence of scrutiny which will follow as a result of the suspension of Parliament, Trotman said that one can only imagine the improprieties that would be taking place.
“It really is a sad day for democracy, a sad day for Guyana,” he said.
Commenting on what he believes would be a frightening rise in the tension levels of the nation, the Speaker said that he would continue to hold out that in the end commonsense would prevail among the political leaders.
According to Trotman, the decision by the President to prorogue Parliament is even more distasteful that the suspension of the Constitution in the 1950s.
What obtained in the 1950s was done by the ‘Mother Country’. However, on this occasion, the Speaker said: “It is done by our own.”
He pointed out that there is serious need for an intervention in light of the circumstances and its implications, and that he is hoping that the international bodies such as the United Nations would note the state of the political climate and intervene.
“There is serious need for a third party intervention, but in the past we have seen that our Members of Parliament have not been able to see eye to eye…But we cannot go along this path. I am hoping that some international body would step in.”
It is also reported that the announcement of the proclamation by the President was greeted with threats of mass resistance, talk of bloodshed and a reminder of what happened to King Charles 1 when he prorogued his Parliament and was later beheaded.
It is further reported that whilst the session was in progress, a large number of vociferous supporters of the combined Opposition were outside of the Parliament Building bearing placards emblazoned with slogans such as “yes for a good life; call elections now; yes democracy no dictatorship and Anil must go, among others.
Following the session, several political leaders met with their supporters who had congregated outside of Parliament Building to inform them of what had transpired and the way forward.
Leader of the Opposition, Retired Brigadier David Granger, who is also the Leader of A Partnership for National Unity (APNU), called on all Guyanese, including civil society bodies, to come out in resistance to the President’s proclamation.
“APNU will not accept this denial of democracy and will not be intimidated by the PPP/C’s dictatorial behaviour.
“We call for the earliest possible revocation of this obnoxious proclamation…There are people in the streets who are angry at what happened, since there was a belief of some sincerity on the art of the administration when the November 10 sitting of the House was fixed. Today we are greeted with a proclamation preventing the functioning of this National Assembly,” Granger said.
He opined that the main purpose of the proclamation is to allow the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) to avoid parliamentary scrutiny and avoid the opposition’s No Confidence Motion.
The Opposition Leader accused the administration of wanting to prevent debate on financial excesses and impropriety; protect the reputations of Ministers from parliamentary sanction; permit the PPP’s campaign for general and regional elections to proceed; and to permit the continued expenditure of State funds without parliamentary scrutiny.
He was adamant that the ruling administration wants to establish a one party state in Guyana.
Denied an opportunity to spearhead the motion meant to effectively bring down the PPP/C Administration and force general elections, Alliance for Change (AFC) Vice Chairman, Moses Nagamootoo warned that despite the prorogation of Parliament, whenever the House is reconvened the Administration would still have to face the Motion of No Confidence.
Nagamootoo reminded that there was not a single event that triggered the Motion of No Confidence, but rather a litany of indiscretions on the part of the Administration.
“No government that considers itself to be a responsible government would defy the right of the people to grass root and participatory democracy…we cannot submit to this kind of bullyism and state terrorism,” Nagamootoo reportedly said.
He was adamant that the Government by its action has now made Guyana into the pariah of the Caribbean and possibly all of Commonwealth.
And Leader of the AFC, Khemraj Ramjattan also expressed his disappointment at the action of the President.
He was adamant that there would be no talks, engagement or consultation with his party until the Government firstly reconvenes Parliament and face the Motion of No Confidence.
Kaieteur News reported that Ramjattan said: “Yesterday they were pro-democracy but today they are pro-rogues.”
A testy Ramjattan said that what the PPP is doing is playing with violence and wants to provoke the Opposition into violent acts.
He used the opportunity to inform all that the AFC would be internationalising the issue so that the world could be appraised of what is transpiring in Guyana.
The sitting of the House was scheduled to start at 2:00 p.m. yesterday, but following the proclamation by the President there were several impromptu meetings being held among Opposition members strategising on a way forward.
