PM Nagamootoo explains Speaker’s announcement

─ Speaker consulted authorities and legal opinions

─ matter to be moved to the courts for further deliberations

DPI, Guyana, Friday, January 4, 2019

Prime Minister, Moses Nagamootoo today sought to clarify some issues surrounding the decision of Speaker of the National Assembly, Dr. Barton Scotland who recommended that the contentions surrounding the December 21, 2018 vote be moved to the Court of Law for a full and complete settlement.

The Prime Minister appeared on the National Communications Network (NCN) programme, titled Context, where he explained what transpired during the 112th Sitting of the National Assembly.

The Prime Minister said the Speaker of the National Assembly related that having “consulted authorities and listened to legal opinions both solicited and unsolicited the information is telling him that there is some doubt as to whether the motion was passed properly, that is, the motion of no-confidence.”

The Prime Minister further explained that while the Speaker of the National Assembly has the power to “revisit, review and rescind the motion”, he would rather it be put before the courts for various reasons.

“In other words, the Speaker is saying, that there are some serious legal constitutional matters to be resolved,” the Prime Minister said.

He added, “our contention as the government is that we had accepted the ruling of the speaker until the speaker either rescind his ruling, withdraw it, set it aside or alter.”

Prime Minister Nagamootoo cited Article 106 (7) of the Constitution and stated that government will remain in office and carry out its functions as per normal until a ruling by the courts is made.

Anara Khan.

Image: Keno George.