Given the motion of no-confidence passed against the government on December 21st, Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo yesterday said that Thursday’s approval of the controversial Natural Resources Fund Bill 2018 is not valid.
“The bill was flawed. We don’t believe it was validly passed because this is a caretaker government and it will be reviewed by the new government,” he said when contacted by the Sunday Stabroek. When the bill was passed last Thursday, the parliamentary opposition was absent as the party had made it clear previously that given the successful no confidence vote, the sitting was unconstitutional and that its MPs would not be putting in an appearance.
Jagdeo told this newspaper that the party has made it clear that government should “not initiate anything in this period inconsistent with its caretaker status and that precedence had already been established around the world about how governments act in such a situation.” He cited the United Kingdom where he said guidance exists on how government should continue to function between the period the no confidence vote is passed up to the elections.
Days after the passage of the no confidence motion, Jagdeo called on the David Granger-led coalition to resign in keeping with the provisions of the constitution.
“We believe that the judiciary must not engage in any action that could violate what is so explicit in our constitution and it is explicit that Government must resign or else we will have a judicial coup reversing what took place in Parliament. We cannot have that. The constitution is clear,” he said at a press conference on December 27.
The following day, shortly after meeting representatives of several western missions, Jagdeo said that anything passed in the National Assembly prior to the holding of elections will not be recognized by the PPP. According to the constitution following the passage of the vote, elections have to be held within 90 days. As such elections are constitutionally due by March 19.
“Anything passed in that period, in this kind of situation… If the government were to persist with this, then that will not be recognised. We will not recognise anything that they pursue or do in the Parliament excepting those related to the conduct of the elections,” Jagdeo said while announcing the opposition’s plan to stay away from the sitting of the National Assembly unless there was a discussion beforehand, where parameters about what would be discussed in parliament could be set. Such a meeting never took place and as such the opposition benches were empty when parliament reconvened.
After a six-hour debate on December 21 the PPP/C-sponsored no-confidence motion was passed following a `yes’ vote from government MP Charrandass Persaud. The passage of the motion sent the Granger administration scampering to examine all legal options. Last Friday a legal challenge to Persaud’s eligibility to sit in the National Assembly given his dual citizenship status was filed. This week another action will be filed challenging the declaration that the majority vote is 33 and not 34.
Last Thursday, Speaker of the National Assembly Dr. Barton Scotland after making an announcement regarding the consequences of the vote, proceeded with the sitting in keeping with the order paper.
The Natural Resources Fund Bill was one of the items on the agenda.
The bill which will cater for funds from oil production in 2020, was passed with minor amendments during Finance Minister Winston Jordan’s moving of the second and third readings of the bill. There were no objections given the opposition’s absence.
