Govt will abide by the Constitution – Min. Gaskin

– Article 106 (7) caters for govt to remain in office until elections is called

DPI, Guyana, Tuesday, January 1, 2019

Minister of Business, Dominic Gaskin has made it clear that the APNU+AFC Coalition Government will abide by the Constitution regarding the recent no-confidence motion. However, he noted that the government will not be bullied by the rantings of the opposition.

The minister was at the time being interviewed on the National Communications Network (NCN Inc.) programme ‘Context. He pointed out that sub-section seven of Article 106 of the Constitution caters for the government to remain in office.

“We will abide by the constitution… the government shall remain in office and shall hold 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 elected members of the National Assembly determine, and shall resign after the President takes the oath of office following the elections,” Minister Gaskin stated.

When the National Assembly resumes on January 3, 2019, an argument will be placed before the House Speaker and a decision will be made on whether there will be elections or that the motion was passed unconstitutionally. However, Minister Gaskin noted that whichever way the Speaker of the National Assembly pronounces, whichever party is unhappy, they have a right to approach the Court of Law for a resolution.

Minister Gaskin highlighted that the government is an elected one, a National Budget for 2019 was recently passed unanimously and that the government has the mandate to serve the citizens of Guyana. He made it pellucidly clear that the government will not be guided by the calls of the leader of the opposition for the government to resign.

“We need to allow the system to work. Our government has stated very clearly that we will adhere to the Constitution.”

It was cited by the minister that the vote of no-confidence was brought against the government prematurely and on frivolous grounds, with mismanagement being one. He said that if one is to examine the Opposition’s time in office, vast mismanagement and lack of accountability of millions of US dollars will be evident.

“The scale of mismanagement on the part of the opposition is grand,” he pointed out.

The Skeldon Sugar Factory, the fibre optic cable, the Marriott Hotel and the Berbice River Bride are just a few of the projects Minister Gaskin alluded to that has burdened this government with loans. According to the minister, these are projects that have not benefitted the people of Guyana.

Nevertheless, Minister Gaskin is encouraging the public to not panic since it is not a crisis situation and have urged persons to go about their business usual.

Isaiah Braithwaite

Images: Department of Public Information