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.