MAJOR BREAKING NEWS: No-confidence vote NOT VALIDLY passed – Appeal Court rules

– Chancellor of the Judiciary (ag), Yonette Cummings-Edwards and Justice Dawn Gregory ruled that the threshold required for a no-confidence Motion was 34 votes, not 33

– Justice Rishi Persaud provided a dissenting ruling

– Govt fully legal, lawful and constitutionally remains in office

DPI, Guyana, Friday, March 22, 2019

In a majority decision this afternoon, the Court of Appeal has ruled that the no-confidence vote was NOT VALIDLY passed on December 21, 2018. The three judges ruled 2-1.

Chancellor of the Judiciary (ag), Yonette Cummings-Edwards and Justice Dawn Gregory ruled that the threshold required for a no-confidence motion was 34 votes, not 33. Justice Rishi Persaud provided a dissenting ruling.

This ruling effectively means that the Coalition Government is fully legal, lawful and constitutionally remains in office without any hindrance or questions.

It is expected that the matters will be taken to the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) by one of the parties who did not receive a favourable ruling. The December 21, 2018 vote was 33-32.

The PPP government of 2014 with Donald Ramotar as President and Anil Nandlall as Attorney General sought an opinion on the threshold required for the passing of a no-confidence motion from esteemed constitutional lawyer Stephen Fraser SC. Fraser provided the opinion to Nandlall and Ramotar that 34 votes was, in fact, the required absolute majority.

A detailed report on the ruling to follow.