THE combined Opposition, comprising A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) and the Alliance for Change (AFC), is inviting discord, division

and confrontation in seeking to enact bills with its one seat majority when it knows “very well” that President Donald Ramotar will not assent to them.
That observation was made by Head of the Presidential Secretariat (HPS), Dr. Roger Luncheon, at his usual post-Cabinet media briefing, in Office of the President, Shiv Chanderpaul Drive, Georgetown.

The first sitting of the National Assembly, following the recess that ended October 9, is scheduled for Monday, October 22.

“The occasion presented an opportunity for the prevailing Opposition rhetoric to be constructively addressed but the Order Paper that was issued has clearly dashed all such thoughts and hopes,” the HPS remarked.
Luncheon said Speaker of the National Assembly, Mr. Raphael Trotman is aware of government’s position on two motions by the Opposition for tabling of bills, motions which he allowed on the Order Paper, namely, the President’s Pension and the Financial Management and Accountability Act Amendment Bills.
“It is not unknown to the Speaker why this piece of legislation is obnoxious. The Administration has signaled its objection to these bills. The lack of attention thereof to parliamentary norms and procedures remains an area for great controversy,” Luncheon stated.
He said the President did not hide and say when the Opposition comes with the bills then he will decide, but made it clear what policies the government is comfortable in implementing.

OBJECTIONABLE
Therefore, if the governing party sitting in parliament advises the Speaker and the Opposition, at length, that they are wasting their time and that the road they are going down is objectionable, are they going to give us another ultimatum on the day the one seat majority passes a piece of legislation for which the President and the governing party has objected to, when he refuses to assent as he throws the ultimatum out? Luncheon asked.
“If we are going to be constructive and you have seasoned politicians who are interested in the development of Guyana, these matters need to be resolved. I can’t imagine it will be resolved by going and pass the bill,” the HPS said.
He continued: “This is an invitation to discord, an invitation to confrontation. What the hell difference does it make that you have the bill enacted with your one seat majority and you know very well on the basis of the objections that you ain’t going anywhere? Am I not right in saying you are inviting discord and division?”
Luncheon said Trotman continues to ignore “sound advice” from more experienced parliamentarians and recognised authoritative sources, and items on the Order Paper for the sitting of the National Assembly on October 22, further attest to his indulgence of the Opposition’s tactics and strategies.
The Opposition’s resolve to impose their one seat majority on Parliament has and, because of their uncompromising stance, will continue to present room for much discord, he maintained.
Luncheon disclosed:“The Speaker has been written regarding their intentions on the membership and the chairmanship of parliamentary select committees and has been pointedly asked: Will an opposition MP chair on the basis of their one seat majority all special select committees even when a government bill is referred to those select committees?”
“The speaker should recall the President’s most recent admonition about the provision of Presidential Assent to approve pieces of legislation from Parliament,” he said.