Dear Editor,
Mr. Eusi Kwayana, in a letter published in the Stabroek News of June 22, 2019 `Best option will be agreement between Gov’t and Opposition on timing of elections’, stated that the PPP/C government of 2011 to 2015 prorogued the National Assembly ‘without explanation’. This is incorrect.
By way of background let me note that the ‘no-confidence’ motion of 2014 was moved by the smaller party in the National Assembly at the time, the AFC.
In a public statement I said that I was proroguing the Parliament to give time for discussions. At that time, I thought that we could have found some grounds to keep moving forward. My expectations were based on the fact that the APNU the larger of the two opposition Parties did not move the motion. That suggested to me that they may not have agreed with the move.
I invited the then Leader of the Opposition to a meeting and sought to find agreement on issues. In the search for common ground we spoke of the need for Local Government Elections. Mr. Granger was calling for that.
I agreed that we should have it. For me it was not difficult to agree on that since that was one of the things I had planned to do. Unfortunately, I had a one-seat minority in the National Assembly and the opposition was doing its best to sabotage all government’s efforts.
The opposition to the Amaila Falls Hydro Project, the opposition to the Anti-Money Laundering Bill, the voting against many budget proposals, example, against the whole Capital Budget for the Ministry of Amerindian Affairs, the cut in the budget to pay contract workers, to name just a few.
I told Mr. Granger that to move ahead with preparations for holding Local Government Elections would require him not to support the no-confidence motion. Or to use his influence to get the motion withdrawn.
He was not prepared to do so. He said to me that he had given his word to the AFC to support their motion.
It was clear, therefore, that we could not find common ground.
So, when the prorogation period came to an end, instead of renewing it, which I could have legally done, I decided to call the elections and seek a new mandate from the people.
Mr. Kwayana is wrong in implying that what I did was similar to what this regime is doing. It is as different as cheese and chalk.
I respected, defended and upheld the Constitution at all times during my stint in the Presidency.
Unfortunately, we can’t say the same for this regime. Casting blame on both sides will not solve anything. Mr. Kwayana. You should call a spade, a spade.
Yours faithfully,
Donald Ramotar
Former President
