President Donald Ramotar has maintained that the A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) and the Alliance For Change (AFC) are squandering the opportunity to work with the government and, that the government’s move to the High Court is to protect the sanctity of parliamentary democracy.
Addressing members of the media during a press conference last Friday at Office of the President, the head of state said that his continued monitoring of the situation in Parliament clearly shows that the “APNU and the AFC are squandering the opportunity of working together with us in the interest of our nation. They are violating all parliamentary norms and practices”.
APNU leader David Granger
He pointed out that since the commencement of the 10th Parliament; there have been willful efforts of the two parties to create a hostile atmosphere in the chambers whilst being uncooperative and disruptive. The president suggested that the impression given is that they are trying to reverse the democratic gains made since 1992.
“The Parliament will be characterised, I believe as a dictatorship of one by the APNU and the AFC; neither one having won individually, a majority of votes over the lawful PPP/C government which has the largest bloc of votes,” he stated.
The president also slammed the two parties for ignoring the principle of proportionality, explaining that continued attempts to sow confusion was reflected in the APNU’s rejection of the suggestion for a forensic audit of the November 28, 2011 general and regional elections results, whilst they continued to play a victim.
He described that act by the opposition parties as a travesty, revealed from the very first meeting to elect the Speaker and Deputy Speaker.
“Despite efforts on my part,” said the President, “on meeting individually with the APNU and AFC and collectively at the inter-parliamentary dialogue, to reach consensus, the APNU and AFC plunged ahead to elect an AFC Speaker and APNU deputy, thus breaking completely with traditions of Parliament.”
The second instance came with the election of the Committee of Selection on the floor of the House.
“Again, we had discussed this at our meetings. The government raised the issue of the size and composition of members of the parliamentary committees, and to uphold the constitutional provisions with regard to proportionality of the electoral strength of the parties at the elections. Both the APNU and the AFC totally ignored this, and proceeded to take a majority on the committee of selection,” President Ramotar stated.
AFC's Khemraj Ramjattan
President Donald Ramotar has maintained that the A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) and the Alliance For Change (AFC) are squandering the opportunity to work with the government and, that the government’s move to the High Court is to protect the sanctity of parliamentary democracy.Addressing members of the media during a press conference last Friday at Office of the President, the head of state said that his continued monitoring of the situation in Parliament clearly shows that the “APNU and the AFC are squandering the opportunity of working together with us in the interest of our nation. They are violating all parliamentary norms and practices”. He pointed out that since the commencement of the 10th Parliament; there have been willful efforts of the two parties to create a hostile atmosphere in the chambers whilst being uncooperative and disruptive. The president suggested that the impression given is that they are trying to reverse the democratic gains made since 1992.“The Parliament will be characterised, I believe as a dictatorship of one by the APNU and the AFC; neither one having won individually, a majority of votes over the lawful PPP/C government which has the largest bloc of votes,” he stated.The president also slammed the two parties for ignoring the principle of proportionality, explaining that continued attempts to sow confusion was reflected in the APNU’s rejection of the suggestion for a forensic audit of the November 28, 2011 general and regional elections results, whilst they continued to play a victim.He described that act by the opposition parties as a travesty, revealed from the very first meeting to elect the Speaker and Deputy Speaker.“Despite efforts on my part,” said the President, “on meeting individually with the APNU and AFC and collectively at the inter-parliamentary dialogue, to reach consensus, the APNU and AFC plunged ahead to elect an AFC Speaker and APNU deputy, thus breaking completely with traditions of Parliament.” The second instance came with the election of the Committee of Selection on the floor of the House.“Again, we had discussed this at our meetings. The government raised the issue of the size and composition of members of the parliamentary committees, and to uphold the constitutional provisions with regard to proportionality of the electoral strength of the parties at the elections. Both the APNU and the AFC totally ignored this, and proceeded to take a majority on the committee of selection,” President Ramotar stated.
