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Guyana's unavoided crisis
Source: Jamaica Observer
Guyana's unavoided crisis
Guyana is now deep in the throes of a constitutional crisis. It didn't have to be there.
Bruce Golding
Sunday, March 10, 2019
The Government lost a no-confidence vote in Parliament on December 21. Section 106 of its constitution requires that in such an event, “the Government shall remain in office and shall hold an election within three months or such longer period as the National Assembly shall, by resolution supported by not less than two-thirds of the votes of all the elected members of the National Assembly, determine”. That three-month period will expire on March 21.
In an article published in the Jamaica Observer on January 6, I had expressed the hope and optimism that the issue would be carefully managed. That optimism was then well founded. Both the Vice-President and Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo, and the Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo made mature and calming statements in Parliament immediately after the motion was passed. The following day, President David Granger agreed to a request by Mr Jagdeo that they meet to discuss the next steps.
From optimism to despair
That optimism has been shaken by subsequent developments. First, despite the initial assurance by Mr Nagamootoo that fresh elections would be held as required by the constitution, the Government challenged the validity of the no-confidence vote in the Supreme Court.
Having failed there on January 31, it took the matter to the Court of Appeal which is scheduled to hear oral submissions on March 15. It is uncertain when it will hand down a decision. At the same time, however, it refused the Government's application for a stay of the Supreme Court's decision and the effect of the no-confidence motion until the appeal is determined. Constitutionally, therefore, the March 21 deadline still stands.
-snip-
Guyana is now deep in the throes of a constitutional crisis. It didn't have to be there.
Bruce Golding
Sunday, March 10, 2019
The Government lost a no-confidence vote in Parliament on December 21. Section 106 of its constitution requires that in such an event, “the Government shall remain in office and shall hold an election within three months or such longer period as the National Assembly shall, by resolution supported by not less than two-thirds of the votes of all the elected members of the National Assembly, determine”. That three-month period will expire on March 21.
In an article published in the Jamaica Observer on January 6, I had expressed the hope and optimism that the issue would be carefully managed. That optimism was then well founded. Both the Vice-President and Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo, and the Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo made mature and calming statements in Parliament immediately after the motion was passed. The following day, President David Granger agreed to a request by Mr Jagdeo that they meet to discuss the next steps.
From optimism to despair
That optimism has been shaken by subsequent developments. First, despite the initial assurance by Mr Nagamootoo that fresh elections would be held as required by the constitution, the Government challenged the validity of the no-confidence vote in the Supreme Court.
Having failed there on January 31, it took the matter to the Court of Appeal which is scheduled to hear oral submissions on March 15. It is uncertain when it will hand down a decision. At the same time, however, it refused the Government's application for a stay of the Supreme Court's decision and the effect of the no-confidence motion until the appeal is determined. Constitutionally, therefore, the March 21 deadline still stands.
-snip-
Read more: http://amp.jamaicaobserver.com/clovis-rewind/guyana-s-unavoided-crisis_159122?profile=1444
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