If the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) upholds the validity of the no-confidence motion against the government that was declared passed last December, the opposition People’s Progressive Party (PPP) will be “pressuring” the administration for the holding of early elections, party General Secretary Bharrat Jagdeo vowed yesterday.
“….We will have to keep pressuring the [David] Granger government to hold early elections. We will have to go back on the streets. We’ll have to get the international community to put pressure on them. We’ll have to do every single thing to ensure that they hold early elections, that they don’t use GECOM as an excuse because they’re scared of election,” Jagdeo said as he received applause from a crowd of over 100 persons at Robert Square, Enmore, East Coast Demerara, where a meeting was held to honour the lives of the Enmore Martyrs.
Jagdeo told the crowd even if the ruling does not go in the party’s favour, it will still be campaigning and working in hopes that all Guyanese play a role in changing the current administration. “Whatever the outcome is on Tuesday, we’ll be strong and ready,” he added.
Jagdeo noted that while the event was organised to celebrate the sacrifices of the Enmore Martyrs—the five workers killed during a protest in 1948— for the development of the sugar industry and for workers’ rights, the sugar industry is under assault and its assets are being given to private individuals for “a pittance.”
The event turned into what appeared to be a campaign rally for the party as Jagdeo told the crowd that the issues in the sugar industry and all other sectors can only be rectified by a change in government. “What’s happening in sugar and all the other sectors can only be fixed by a change in government because the nature of this government is one that doesn’t focus on building wealth, on expanding welfare, on creating jobs, [and] on improving the lives of people. Its focus mainly is on vindictiveness and personal gathering for a cabal of a few individuals,” he argued while noting that as the party’s activists have toured the country, a number of people have expressed their need for a change in government.
“The decision on Tuesday will decide the pace at which that change will take [place],” he said, while noting that the case before the CCJ will be the determining factor as to how soon Guyana will have general and regional elections.
The no-confidence motion, sponsored by Jagdeo, was declared passed by House Speaker Dr Barton Scotland following a vote in its favour by then APNU+AFC parliamentarian Persaud on the night of December 21st.
Following a challenge by government in the High Court, Chief Justice (Ag) Roxane George-Wiltshire found that the motion was validly passed with the votes of 33 elected members of the 65-member Assembly. She has also ruled that the passage of the motion should have triggered the immediate resignation of the Cabinet.
The Guyana Court of Appeal, by a majority decision on March 22nd, overturned the Chief Justice’s ruling, saying that the correct mathematical formula for finding the “absolute” majority was not used. Though initially accepting that the motion was validly passed, government days later did an about-face, arguing that 34 votes, which represents an “absolute” majority of the 65 members of the House, as opposed to a “simple” majority of 33, were needed.
The state’s case is that in Guyana’s 65-member National Assembly, half would result in a fraction of 32.5, which has to be rounded to the next whole number, 33, and that in accordance with the practice and the application of the meaning of what is needed for an “absolute majority” one has to be added to calculate that required majority, 34.
‘Struggles and pain’
Jagdeo also used the occasion to deny that the party wants to regain power to gain control of the oil and gas industry and the revenue it is expected to generate. He said that it instead plans to define the framework for the industry, criminalise non-disclosure of information relating to proceeds from oil companies and establish an impartial regulatory body.
Meanwhile, PPP presidential candidate Irfaan Ali also addressed the meeting and he emphasised that the sacrifices of the Enmore Martyrs was not only for the sugar workers but for all workers across the country. He stated that the struggles, fortitude and strength of the martyrs inspire the movement of the PPP.
Ali told the crowd that through his travels around Guyana, he had noticed that the struggles and pain of the martyrs continue in today’s society but under a “dictatorial” administration. He assured the crowd that the PPP understands the pains of the citizens and is working on a strategy that will return hope to Guyanese. “Let me assure all workers of this country that the People’s Progressive Party/Civic understands your pain and we are working out a strategy that will return hope to all Guyanese, that will return decent living conditions and better services for all Guyanese. The People’s Progressive Party/Civic, very shortly, will be returned to office and when we are returned to office, we will show this government what is meant by governing for all the people in the interest of all the people,” Ali said.
He went on to say that over the last four years, Guyana has experienced much hardship under the current administration, with the loss of jobs in the agriculture and mining sector at large, with the increase in the cost of living and the erosion of the public health care system. “We are seeing the effects of this on our people, on Guyanese. Workers must have efficient government services provided to them,” he added.
Ali noted that not only have workers lost their jobs but they have seen an increase in the water and electricity rates and a decrease in the efficiency of the supply of power. He assured the crowd that the new PPP/C administration will create 50,000 new jobs and will improve the living conditions by reducing the cost of electricity and improving health care system. “Your next People’s Progressive Party government will not only create 50,000 new jobs but we are going to work to improve the condition of living for every single Guyanese. We are going to reduce the cost of electricity. We are going to improve primary health care. We are going to reorganise our health systems so that our citizens will benefit from a more efficient system,” he said.
He also promised to return sugar workers back to work by reopening of estates while at the same time increasing opportunities in the communities and enhancing the village economy. Ali ended his address by stating that the party will soon be releasing its manifesto.
