National Assembly commences debate on ‘no-confidence motion’ against Rohee

Government parliamentarians on Wednesday strongly defended the integrity and tenure of Home Affairs Minister Clement Rohee in the face of a no-confidence motion brought against him by Opposition Leader David Granger. The motion calls on the National Assembly to declare “no- confidence” in Rohee following the Linden unrests and deaths.

The motion tabled on Wednesday called on the minister to resign his post while accepting “ministerial responsibility” for the death of three Lindeners and the injuries inflicted on scores of others in the mining town.
The debate was spirited and heated as the government sought to dismantle what it said were “unfortunate”, “flawed” and “politically motivated” arguments, being mounted to support an ill-advised motion on the basis of “opportunism” against the minister.
Granger, who presented his motion, told the House that the opposition did not want “rhetoric” but rather “the resignation of the minister” because of the seriousness of the Linden unrests and the fact that the lives of innocent Guyanese were snuffed out as a result of the excessive force used by the police officers.
“Today, this House has embarked on a road that will enhance its democracy,” he noted, explaining that the motion sought to address the misdemeanour of the Guyana Police Force and its mismanagement as well as its usual mistreatment of citizens which results in disrespect for their human rights and international rights, to peaceful protest and assembly.
“What could have caused this madness, insanity where Guyanese could have pumped hot lead into the bodies of our people… somebody must take responsibility for their deaths… it was not misadventure and… something went badly wrong,” Granger said.0020
“The minister (Rohee) admitted that there were other measures that could have been used,” the opposition leader said, explaining that “this is not the time to blame the corporals and the commissioners, but this is a time to accept responsibility.” He added: “We have no-confidence in the ability of the minister to preserve and protect our citizens.”
Housing and Water Minister Irfaan Ali in his presentation said that all Guyanese must understand that the opposition was leading these protests and bringing this motion before the Parliament with the aim of scoring cheap political points, while seeking to hand judgement down before any investigations begin into the incident of June 18.
Ali spoke strongly about the principles of democracy and good leadership, and the fact that all leaders in the country and especially those in Linden “needed to demonstrate good leadership and responsibility”, which could have avoided the shooting to deaths of the three residents of the mining town, and the string of unrests which have created instability there.
He did not justify the act. He contended the opposition-backed protests have also led to the violence, damage to public property and a break down in law and order in the community.
“Who should take responsibility for these actions… who were the instigators… who were the authors… where were Lindeners getting their instructions from… who were the political activists on the ground,” Ali later told Guyana Times International in an invited comment.
“But I will not stand here and cast with a wide broad brush that all those who protested were responsible for the destruction and loss of property that took place,” he explained.
The minister made it clear that those leaders in the opposition who had any hand in the Linden unrests and fiasco should offer their resignations, instead of Rohee. “When we talk about democracy, the burning of public infrastructure, damage of property and the fear that these events generate, then the leaders that were inside, they must hold responsibility and all those leaders should offer their resignations here,” he opined, explaining that simply saying that it was Minister Rohee’s handling or non-handling of the event that resulted in the shooting to death of the residents, was being malicious.

Parliament
cannot fire Rohee
“Only the president can remove him… a minister having being appointed by the government cannot be removed by the Parliament… so whether we speak here now or until Thy Kingdom come, the National Assembly has no power to remove Minister Rohee, it is as simple as that,” Attorney General and Legal Affairs Minister Anil Nandlall said.
Nandlall argued that government has committed itself to setting up a commission of inquiry to probe the Linden deaths, and the events which unfolded around, and as a result of the unrest in, the mining town.
He was convinced that President Donald Ramotar was more than just concerned about the effects the unrests have had on the township, but rather wanted justice for those who may have been slain at the hands of the lawmen presumably for reasons that are still not clear.
Any attempt, he proposed, to start a trial of people’s character and image in the Parliament without proper evidence would not augur well for both the independence and outcome of the inquiry, which would still in any case benefit from the input of international experts and presence.
“Sir, if we are concerned and not be influenced by agendas that are outside of the Linden tragedy, then we must not sir, make utterances in this House and outside this House… which would tend to prejudge, pre-empt and prejudice that very exercise which we have all committed ourselves to,” he argued.
“If we are going to take the approach that whenever death occurs that the person who we feel is responsible be found guilty and condemned, then we must have to abolish the entire legal system of our country,” Nandlall reasoned, as he submitted that “We are condemning a minister without any hearing whatsoever… we are condemning people without the right to due process.”
The legal affairs minister tried at lengths to enlighten opposition members that the motion was flawed in principle, and could not demand that the executive government dispose of one of its hard working members, simply because of an opinion or some norm that they want to be established in such sensitive cases.
“The legal truth of the matter sir, is that Mr Rohee simply does not hold office due to the confidence of this assembly… Rohee is appointed by the president and he comes as an elected member by the people.”
He never denied that there were violations committed by both protesters and police altogether, but urged that Guyanese await justice when the inquiry is completed.