PPP General Secretary Clement Rohee yesterday said that the AFC’s no-confidence motion against the government seems to be “in limbo” but the ruling party is preparing itself for any eventuality.
The no-confidence mo-tion, which was submitted to Clerk of the National Assembly Sherlock Isaacs prior to the parliamentary recess, could result in the resignation of the government and the holding of new general elections if carried by a majority vote.
Speaking at his party’s weekly press conference at Freedom House yesterday, Rohee said Isaacs has not been heard from as yet on the motion. He added that after the Clerk would have spoken, then the two Chief Whips in the National Assembly would have to have their say on the matter.
Rohee was at time responding to a question about whether his party would be in agreement with the motion being debated on the first day that the Assembly resumes sittings, which is expected to be October 16th.
“…It is not so much a matter of what I would like to hear on the matter; it is what the process requires and what the Standing Orders require… Let us have more confidence and faith in the process of consultation and what the Standing Orders allow for and based on that we would be guided,” Rohee said yesterday.
Over the weekend, AFC leader Khemraj Ramjattan said that his party would be pushing for the motion to be debated on the first sitting after the recess ends.
Ramjattan added that he would personally be pushing for the motion to take precedence over the other items on the agenda and for the debate to conclude and a vote to be taken on the same day.
Rohee yesterday said it appears as if the AFC is trying desperately not to lose out on the no—confidence motion as it apparently believes that time is against it and it is working to ensure that the motion “finds its rightful place in the National Assembly.”
“From all indications it is clear also that they are desperately trying to pile on a lot of pressure on the APNU to hold to the no-confidence motion commitment and they are at the same time seeking to ensure that APNU continues with its assurance to support this matter when it comes up in the National Assembly,” Rohee observed.
“We don’t know how this thing would end up… but the no-confidence motion, to me, seems to be in a limbo, seems to be in a limbo and the PPP is closely monitoring the situation,” he added.
Rohee further said that when the time comes for the PPP to be more definitive on the matter it would do so.
“In the meantime, we continue to discuss, we continue to engage on the subject and preparing ourselves for any eventuality whether if the no confidence motion is debated in parliament… if local government elections takes precedent we are prepared… if it comes to general elections we are prepared…,” he said, while noting that his party has to be very flexible and nimble in the situation as it has not dug itself in holes as the two opposition parties have done.
When asked about his party’s presidential candidate choice, Rohee yesterday said he has spoken on the issue before and does not want to keep the “pot boiling to keep Stabroek News engaged on this matter.”
He added that when the time comes the party would have more to say on it as it is not a matter that is engaging the party. The matters engaging it, he said, are elections, general and local government elections and the no-confidence motion.
