Latest update May 13th, 2024 12:59 AM
Nov 11, 2014 News
…Ramotar ‘dissed’ Parliament and the People of Guyana-Nagamootoo
By Gary Eleazar
President Donald Ramotar yesterday made good on his threat to prorogue Parliament,
if the political opposition chose to go ahead with its no confidence motion against the Government. In the process he has infuriated the parliamentary opposition.
The announcement of the proclamation by the President was greeted with threats of mass resistance, talk of bloodshed and a reminder of what happened to King Charles 1, when he prorogued his Parliament and was later beheaded.
Speaker of the House, Raphael Trotman, called a meeting to order in the Chambers of Parliament and officially informed the opposition members of the Proclamation by the President.
Several parliament staffers were in chambers; members of the public congregated in the viewing gallery to witness and listen to what can only be described as an historic announcement by Trotman.
By the end of the session several of the political leaders met with their supporters who were still congregated outside of Parliament building to inform them of what had transpired and the way forward.
Arriving at Parliament building amidst a throng of vociferous supporters, Opposition Leader, David Granger, told reporters that A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) will resist the President’s decision since the party viewed it as a denial of democracy.
According to Granger, what obtained as a result of the decision of the President is a dark day for Guyana; it was completely unnecessary.
“Obviously he wants more time for his elections campaign…He wants to prevent the debate of the no confidence motion.”
Granger also accused the President of wanting to prevent the opposition from looking into the matters of his Attorney General, Anil Nandlall, as well as that of Finance Minister Dr. Ashni Singh, who is accused of illegally spending in excess of $4.5B from the nation’s coffers.
“He has made a wrong move here,” said Granger. When pressed for an opposition reaction to the decision by the President, Granger said, “Protest. The President has to rescind that proclamation as quickly as possible…That is the realistic option, we are not going to accept it.”
Mover of the no confidence motion, Alliance for Change (AFC) Vice Chairman, Moses Nagamootoo, received a boisterous greeting by those who had gathered outside of Parliament buildings waving placards, beating drums and calling for the removal of President Ramotar from office.
He joined in on the chorus “Ramotar must go” before commenting on the decision to prorogue the Parlaiment.
A Day of Infamy and Shame (DIS), he said.
Nagamootoo was adamant that President Ramotar by his action has ‘dissed’ the Parliament and by extension, the People of Guyana.
He lashed at the proverbial olive branch that was issued by the administration, calling it ‘dry talk’ about negotiation.
Nagamootoo was adamant that there can be no negotiations with Government when a dagger is being held to the throat of Parliament.
“Today democracy is held hostage by the PPP (People’s Progressive Party) and I believe that there must be a vibrant peoples’ struggle to take the Parliament back from these tyrants.”
According to Nagamootoo, reacting to the decision of the President is not simply for the opposition parliamentarians but rather a matter for all Guyanese. “The PPP has plunged this country into an extra parliamentary dictatorship.”
He said that the Government wants to govern without parliamentary approval, sanction or scrutiny and it is now for people to response to this “bizarre declaration.”
Nagamootoo warned that the Government may have been motivated by a desire to spend public funds without any parliamentary scrutiny and to raid the treasury.
Government, he said, has now put Guyana into the throes of an authoritarian state and Ramotar must revoke the proclamation in order to allow the representatives of the people of the country to decide on its future.
According to Nagamootoo, with strong resistance from the people, the Government will eventually have to bow to their wishes. “I hope that now there will be an aggressive expression of the feelings of the Guyanese people.”
Nagamootoo said that he would not be able to preempt what would be the response of the people to the outrageous act by the President. He drew reference to the scores that had gathered outside Parliament building voicing their displeasure at Ramotar’s proclamation.
Nagamootoo said that the demands now must not only be restricted to the reconvening of Parliament, but that “Ramotar should go; he has failed the people of Guyana and he must go.”
WPA Leader, Dr. Rupert Roopnaraine, who was also on hand for what was thought to be a debate and vote on the no confidence motion, also expressed his disgust at the decision of the President.
All 33 members in the opposition benches turned up ready to debate and vote the motion of no confidence, intent on removing the Government, but Ramotar has effectively pulled the brakes on the opposition’s wishes.
Ranks of the Guyana Police Force were out in their numbers as supporters of both AFC and APNU converged outside of Parliament buildings bearing placards emblazoned with slogans such as “yes for a good life; call elections now; yes democracy no dictatorship and Anil must go, among others.
AFC leader Khemraj Ramjattan, also joined those converged outside of Parliament building with his placard and other executive members.
His placard read on one side “Cheddi died…when the cats away the “Rats” will play,” while on the reverse side bore the slogan, “Shame PPP!! From: Pro-Democracy To: Pro-Rogues.”
The sitting of the House was scheduled for a 14:00hrs start but following the proclamation by the President there were several impromptu meetings being held among opposition members strategizing on a way forward.
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