Parliament restored by Appeal Court scrapping no-confidence motion – Vice President Greenidge

Last Updated on Saturday, 23 March 2019, 10:35 by Writer

Guyana’s Acting President Carl Greenidge Friday night announced that Parliament has been reactivated and the 65-seat National Assembly would soon meet, following the Court of Appeal’s ruling that the no-confidence motion was not validly passed by 33 votes.

“Henceforth, the situation as regards Parliament is restored to the position as at 21st of December prior to the vote. Arrangements will be made for Parliament to meet and to conduct its business unhindered,” Greenidge, who is also the Minister of Foreign Affairs, said on the state-owned National Communications Network (NCN) television.

Chancellor of the Judiciary Yonette Cummings-Edwards and Justice of Appeal Dawn Gregory ruled that 34 votes, which constituted an absolute majority, were required to pass the no-confidence motion.

Greenidge said President David Granger and his ministers were now free to meet as they see fit. “There are no barriers to the President and the Cabinet moving forward as they see fit and without unusual hindrances,” he said.

The Foreign Affairs Minister said with the 2-1 decision of the Court of Appeal, the Guyana government’s relationship with the international community would no longer be under a shadow and questions would not be asked about the legitimacy of the administration.

“The majority decision establishes that the coalition government is legal and lawful, and constitutionally remains in office without hindrance or let,” he stated.

Greenidge appealed to Guyanese to respect the ruling of the Guyana Court of Appeal and should there be further appeals to the Caribbean Court of Justice, “you should remain calm in awaiting the outcome of that process as well”.

“I urge all Guyanese to conduct their business and go about their daily activity with the full confidence that their safety and well-being are assured,” he said.

In December last, then government parliamentarian Charrandass Persaud had voted for the Jagdeo sponsored no-confidence motion, resulting in its 33-32 passage.

From then to now Jagdeo had failed to get the Guyana Elections Commission to prepare to conduct General and Regional Elections within the 90-day timeframe.