Dear Editor,
In a previous letter, I outlined that there should be no sitting of the National Assembly, until a full and final determination of all matters relating to the No-Confidence Motion, currently before the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ). Based upon the Case Management Conference (CMC) held on the 29th day of March 2019, we can expect a ruling shortly after the 10th day of May 2019.
The Government’s announcement of an April 11th sitting of the National Assembly must be rejected by all fair minded, right thinking and objective Guyanese, which in essence should be all Guyanese. Accompanying that announcement was the declared intention to seek a supplementary budget for the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) and as we now understand, there have been instructions to several agencies in various Ministries, to prepare requests for supplementary budgets, which will be tabled at Cabinet for approval.
Without any difficult, the conclusion can be made that the above actions of this Granger-led APNU+AFC Government, is to use this period for an assault on the Treasury, to draw down on additional funds to support their current disguised, but openly seen political campaign. Accounting Officers and Heads of Budget Agencies must be aware, and I also use this medium to offer some advice to them, that should there be an upholding of the validity of the No-Confidence Motion by the CCJ, all actions of this Government of this nature post 21st December 2018, and more so, post 21st March 2019, would be illegal and voidable. Just to remind that the only reason why this Government remained in Office after the successful passage of the No-Confidence Motion was for the sole purpose of conducting an election, which was mandated by the Constitution within three months. This was in accordance with Article 106, specifically, Article 106 (7) of the Constitution.
One must wonder how is it that after this Government’s inability to implement significant percentages of Budgets 2015, 2016, 2017 and 2018, that three months into 2019, there is a need for supplementary budgets. What is being done in 2019, that was not envisaged and planned for in budget 2019, when it was debated and passed in December 2018?
Editor, the answer is a simple one. The Coalition Government is using the Consolidated Fund and taxpayers’ monies for campaigning, electioneering and vote buying.
No amount of curry-favouring, `mamaguying’ and hoodwinking will work. The people do not have confidence in this insensitive, aloof and uncaring Administration. The National Assembly must not be used as a conduit for campaign financing for the Government.
There should be no Parliament, await the ruling of the CCJ first.
Yours faithfully,
Bishop Juan A. Edghill M.P.
