Even as the Parliamentary Opposition continues to mount pressure on the David Granger-led administration to resign following the apex court’s validation of the December 21, 2018 no-confidence motion, the government remains resolute.
The latest request made by Leader of the Opposition Bharrat Jagdeo was done by way of a letter to President Granger some three weeks ago.
During a post-cabinet press briefing earlier today, Director-General (DG) of the Ministry of the Presidency Joseph Harmon was asked to relate the Head of State’s response.
Harmon said that Granger’s response to Jagdeo was predicated on advice received from Attorney General (AG) and Minister of Legal Affairs Basil Williams.
“The AG had provided advice to the President and the President has responded to the Leader of the Opposition and, in general terms, the President advised the Leader of the Opposition that [neither] he [Granger] nor his Cabinet will be resigning and the Constitution provides for the President and government to remain in office until such time that a new President is sworn in,” Harmon said.
Article 106 (6) of the Guyana Constitution states, “The Cabinet, including the President, shall resign if the government is defeated by the vote of a majority of all the elected members of the National Assembly on a vote of confidence.”
The opposition has been calling on the government to follow this particular proviso, while the government has been relying on 106 (7) which states, “Notwithstanding its [government’s] defeat, 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, and shall resign after the President takes the oath of office following the election.”
The Opposition is of the opinion that elections will not be held by September 18 of this year with the ongoing data-gathering process, house-to-house registration. That concern is, however, engaging the courts. The party has also eliminated the possibility of extending the elections deadline by indicating publicly that it will not support it in the assembly.
