Attorney General Anil Nandlall stated yesterday that President Donald Ramotar was not a mere rubber stamp of parliamentary processes and acted “within constitutionally prescribed parameters” when he withheld assent to two opposition bills recently.
Speaking at a PPP press conference at Freedom House, Robb Street yesterday, Nandlall sought to clarify the role of the President as regards the assent to bills. He said the Constitution ensures “that the executive President of this land is not held ransom or captive to the National Assembly and it is to be interpreted to prevent such an eventuality.”
Quoting Article 52 of the Constitution, he stated that the “National Assembly is not Parliament it is merely a constituent part of Parliament the other constituent part is the President.”