Executive members of the Alliance For Change (AFC) and A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) met today at the Office of the Opposition Leader.
A release this afternoon from the Office of the Leader of the Opposition said that AFC and APNU leaders used this meeting to synchronize their position on support for the planned ‘No Confidence Motion’ against the government and the demand for Local Government Elections.
“The AFC and APNU reiterated their support for the No Confidence Motion and the call for President Ramotar to announce a date for Local Government Elections”, the release said.
Successful passage of the no-confidence motion will trigger general elections.
The Combined Opposition is looking forward to returning to the National Assembly, the release added.
The AFC later issued its own press release. The press release follows:
The Alliance For Change (AFC) and A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) today re-affirmed their unwavering commitment to passing the vote of no confidence against the government at the earliest sitting of the National Assembly.
The summit of the combined parliamentary opposition was held at the Office of the Leader of the Opposition.
The AFC delegation comprised Leader Mr. Khemraj Ramjattan, Vice-Chairman, Mr. Moses Nagamootoo, Ms. Catherine Hughes (party Whip), and General Secretary Mr. David Patterson
The APNU’s parliamentary delegation comprised its Chairman and Leader of the Opposition Brigadier (Ret’d) David Granger, Dr. Rupert Roopnaraine Mr. Basil Williams (Deputy Speaker), Ms. Amna Ally (Opposition Chief Whip), Mr. Ronald Bulkan and Mr. Winston Felix (former Commissioner of Police).
APNU strongly reiterated support for the motion of no confidence against the minority PPP/C government, which was tabled in the National Assembly by AFC’s MPs, Mr. Nagamootoo and Ms. Hughes.
The two sides insisted that the no confidence motion should take precedence over all other matters on the parliamentary agenda when the National Assembly re-convenes this month.
The parties, which hold a majority of seats in the National Assembly since the 2011 elections, emphasized that the holding of local government elections or the setting of a date for such elections, would not deflect from or affect passage of the vote of no confidence.
The government, they maintained, is bounded by the Constitution to periodically hold local government elections, which were last held in 1994.
Both AFC and APNU declared their united position on the no confidence motion, and insisted that it is clear and unambiguous, and rebuffed the various sinister attempts of the PPP/C to create confusion over the issue and to divert attention from it.
Both AFC and APNU have assured the Speaker of the National Assembly, Hon. Raphael Trotman, of their support in the execution of his official functions.
