History was made in Parliament on Friday night when Alliance For Change (AFC) Member of Parliament Charrandas Persaud voted by conscience in favour of the Opposition People’s Progressive Party No-confidence Motion against Government. Persaud has since indicated that his vote was one of conscience as opposed to towing the party line and voting against the motion.
AmCham President Zulfikar Ally
Following the vote, the Private Sector Commission (PSC) as well as the Georgetown Chamber of Commerce and Industry, hailed the democratic process in which the motion was debated and voted upon. The PSC said it is satisfied that democracy prevailed in the National Assembly and called on the population to be proud while continuing to respect the decision.
The umbrella body also urged leaders to continue to respect and honour the highest principles of democratic Government and the maintenance of law and order, which the nation has embraced.
“The Commission now calls upon our leaders and our people to continue to respect and honour the democratic decision of our Parliament… the Private Sector Commission expects that the nation will now properly prepare itself for a peaceful, free and fair election going forward,” the PSC said.
Essequibo Chambers
President of the Essequibo Chamber of Commerce, Suean Seenarayan, hailed the no-confidence vote, noting that it will provide a new opportunity for the turning of the economy. She noted that in Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam), the economy is stagnant since the rice industry is failing and that is the backbone of the region’s economy. She is hopeful that the calling of early elections would mean a renewed focus on the industries other than the oil and gas sector.
“For us here in Essequibo, businesses here have been very slow for us for the past couple of years and I think it is something good for the region and the country as a whole since the rice industry is very stagnant and everybody thinking about oil and gas and even though it is going to be a plus to us it would take years before we could benefit from it,” she said.
“We need to pay attention to the industries that are here and are falling and I am hoping with the No-confidence Motion passing we are now in a position we can use that to turn things around and fix things some way or the other,” Seenarayan added.
Region Three Chamber
Meanwhile, the Region Three Chamber of Commerce acknowledged the strength of Guyana’s democracy while urging Guyanese to go about their business during the holiday season. The Chamber of Commerce reiterated that Guyanese are all one people living in one nation with a common destiny; as such, they cannot allow partisan interest to flourish. They also urged persons to be aware of those who would attempt to provoke conflict and create ethnic tension.
“Citizens should be watchful of attempts to provoke conflict and create ethnic tension and mayhem as we have a nation to build and a destiny to mould. Both parties, Opposition and Government, have a responsibility now to ensure the national interest is served. The No-confidence Motion is a reawakening of the power of the electorate and the business community needs a stable political situation for a buoyant economy. We don’t want only to see politicians during elections but we want to see them all year-round so they can fulfill their promises to citizens during interactive periods,” Chamber President Halim Khan said.
AmCham (Guyana)
Meanwhile, the American Chambers of Commerce also stated that it respects and supports the results of the democratic process of the nation’s Parliament.
“We commend and support both President Granger and the Leader of the Opposition, Dr Bharrat Jagdeo’s call for peace and cooperation as we head into general elections. AmCham also supports our country’s leaders in their call for calm and peace at this time,” AmCham, President Zulfikar Ally noted.
No further division
The Guyana Trades Union Congress said the parliamentary decision should not serve as a further division for the nation and called for Persaud to share with his constituency, the coalition, as well as the nation the rationale for his decision-making.
“No longer should the public be made to accept, as norm, public officials making critical decisions without providing justification. The coalition, but most specifically the AFC, needs to explain to the nation. Leaders must go all out to avoid or minimise triumphalism. All parties and citizens should be watchful of attempt to provoke conflict and create ethnic tension and mayhem. We still have a nation to build and a destiny to mould,” the GTUC said.
