Despite the ruling from the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) that the APNU+AFC Coalition Government has fallen with the valid passage of the no-confidence motion on December 21, 2018, the current Administration is showing no signs that it will comply.
A leaked document, dated June 21, 2019, from the Ministry of Finance had advised all Heads of Budget Agencies and Departments, including Constitutional Bodies, that preparations are underway to present Budget 2020 for approval – something that would require sittings of the National Assembly – sittings during a period that the APNU+AFC Coalition is illegally occupying office, since the Constitution states that after the passage of a no-confidence motion the Government remains in office in a caretaker role for the sole purpose of holding General and Regional Elections.
Commenting on the matter, People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C) Parliamentarian, Juan Edghill, said, “Budget 2020 must be presented by a Government that has a mandate from the people through Free and Fair Elections
“…it is unbelievable that a Government that was defeated by way of a No Confidence Vote on December 21, 2018 who by way of spurious and incredible arguments of a ‘34 majority theory’, used the legal system to buy themselves seven months and counting to implement a budget that they had no mandate to implement. Rather than offering goods and services to all the people of Guyana, they used questionable processes of procurement to award contracts to their political allies, friends and families to shore up political support.”
He charged that the letter was sent to all Heads of Budget Agencies and Departments including Constitutional Bodies in the face of the operationalization of Articles 106 (6) and (7) of the Constitution. “Is someone being delusional or is it plain stubbornness? Or maybe it is a mentality that is being exposed that this Government believes that it can continue to hang on to power indefinitely. How desperate can one be?” he questioned.
Edghill added, “The charade continues, they used an argument of the ‘34 majority theory’ to implement the 2019 Budget and now they hope to use the argument of House to House Registration to buy themselves more time so that they can formulate, prepare and present a 2020 Budget. The Minister of Finance who stood resigned on December 21, 2018 is presumptuously pursuing a path of provocation by causing this circular No. 7/2019 to be issued.”
The PPP/C Parliamentarian called on all Heads of Budget Agencies, Permanent Secretaries, Regional Executive Officers and Heads of Constitutional Bodies to familiarize themselves with the rulings of the CCJ which are available on their official website. “Do not be bullied!” he appealed.
A Budget which defines the vision, priorities and programs for the prosperity and development of all the people of Guyana by a Government that is legal, constitutional and democratically elected through free and fair elections, is the only one that will be accepted, he charged.
