Parliament to be dissolved after Feb 12

Last Updated on Tuesday, 10 February 2015, 2:16 by GxMedia

Attorney General, Anil Nandlall Monday night said the Parliament would be dissolved any time after February 12, but within the specified period to ensure that elections are held on May 11, 2015.

Nandlall explained that the Parliament could not be dissolved before February 12, and he added that the Constitution allows for it to be done within three months of Election Day.

He said consideration has to be given to Nomination Day which is not later than 32 days before polling day.

Head of the Presidential Secretariat, Dr. Roger Luncheon said late last month that Parliament would be dissolved on February 8 or 9, 2015.

Former Judge at the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ), Professor Duke Pollard has already said that the election date announced by President Donald Ramotar was not valid because Article 61 of Guyana’s constitution requires the appointment of the election date by the President by proclamation- “that is an appropriate gazettable instrument in writing.”

Pollard added that Article 61 further requires that the appointment of an election date has to be made only after the dissolution of Parliament and not before nor during its prorogation.

Parliament remains prorogued (suspended) since November 11, 2014 when the combined opposition had hoped to debate and approve a no-confidence motion in the Ramotar administration.