Expressing concern again at the continuing prorogation of Parliament, the United Kingdom yesterday reiterated its call for the Donald Ramotar administration to lift the suspension of the law-making body.
“The UK Government views with concern the continued prorogation of Parliament by His Excellency President Ramotar and calls for its earliest possible resumption,” Foreign Office Minister Tobias Ellwood said in a statement. “Parlia-ment is required by Guy-ana’s Constitution and the Commonwealth Charter, it provides the necessary checks and balances and enables citizens’ voices to be heard. The suspension of Parliament therefore means that an essential element of a functioning democracy has been put on hold,” he said.
On November 10 last year, President Ramotar suspended the National Assembly to avoid a motion of no-confidence which was to be piloted on the same day by AFC MP Moses Nagamootoo and which was expected to bring down the government and trigger fresh elections.
Ramotar’s government has found little support for prorogation which critics have argued has shut down the legislative branch of government and the forum through which the people’s representatives are heard. Last month, amid political deadlock and facing growing criticism over his decision to suspend Parliament,