Government Chief Whip Gail Teixeira today confirmed that her acquiescence to a date for the sitting of the National Assembly is awaiting the outcome of the ongoing engagement between the President Donald Ramotar and Leader of the Opposition David Granger.
Her statement in response to accusations from Opposition Chief Whip Amna Ally lends greater credence to views that the government and APNU are trying to strike a deal which would stave off the no-confidence motion which the AFC intends to pilot at the first sitting following the end of the parliamentary recess.
Teixeira’s statement follows:
Statement by Gail Teixeira, Chief Whip, Member of Parliament
I have noticed reports in the media and on the internet quoting statements attributed to Opposition Whip, Ms. Amna Ally with regard to the setting of a date for a sitting of the National Assembly. Ms. Ally’s “frustration” and accusation of my “dilly-dallying” is of little interest to me, but, the fact that she is not telling the truth, or, at best only telling a partial truth to the Guyanese public, is of much greater concern to me.
First of all, Ms. Ally and l spoke on several occasions with regard to the AFC dates of October 16th, 22nd, and 24th as announced in the media and we both agreed that these dates were not suitable. She, then, suggested October 30th and within 24 hours called and said on checking her schedule that this date would clash with other planned events of the A.P.N.U. I agreed to her request.
We, then, had a tacit understanding that it would be held in the early part of November. I reminded her and reiterated on more than one occasion that once there was an opening and the President and Leader of the Opposition were engaged in some kind of dialogue that this process should be given a chance to evolve. I told her l would await the outcome of this engagement and advised her to do the same.
As Chief Whip l have abided with the engagement between the President and the Leader of the Opposition, however, it appears that Ms. Ally as Opposition Whip is coming under undue pressure from the A.F.C. and the more belligerent elements of the A.P.N.U. and as a result is having a difficult time.
1, as a result of her public statements, now have had cause to pause and wonder if her statements are in fact, inadvertently or advertently, exposing her party’s intention of having no meaningful engagement with the President and the Government.
Nevertheless, I as the Chief Whip for the Government in the National Assembly, wish to assure the public that the delay in setting a date is only due to the overriding interest in allowing the engagement with the Leader of the Opposition to evolve. This should not in any way lead the public to believe that the government is fearful of convening a sitting nor in addressing the no confidence motion brought by the A.F.C. We are prepared to convene a sitting at any time.
