A large number of Guyanese and Kittians live in the Virgin Islands, and I am certain that most of them would like to be abreast with the happenings, especially political activities, in their home countries.
The latest is that no-confidence motions have been filed against the administrations of these two Caricom countries, and the electorates are anxiously awaiting the outcome of the motions, which will pave the way for early general elections.
In Guyana, the small opposition party, Alliance for Change, has filed a no-confidence motion against the Donald Ramotar government and is hoping to get the support of the main opposition, A Partnership for National Unity. If all the members of that movement back the no-confidence motion, it could pass since the combined opposition has one more vote that the governing People’s Progressive Party. The government would be forced to call elections within 90 days from its passing. The motion might be delayed for quite some time, however, because there is a debate about whether the speaker has the authority to set a date for the reconvening of Parliament, which is now in recess.
The speaker, Raphael Trotman, a senior member of the AFC, wants to convene a meeting, but the clerk of the National Assembly said that the speaker has no authority to do so. Former Speaker Ralph Ramkarran, a former PPPC strongman, said that his successor has the legal right.
The clerk is contending that the government’s chief whip, Gail Teixeira, has the power to do so, but she said that she will not summon a meeting of Parliament until discussions concerning local government elections between Mr. Ramotar and Opposition Leader David Granger are concluded.
Mr. Trotman has instructed the clerk to reconvene a sitting for Nov. 6, but the clerk refused, and it seems to me that this toss up might end up in court, which will delay the sitting of Parliament to discuss the no-confidence motion.
St. Kitts and Nevis
Over in St. Kitts and Nevis, a second no-confidence motion was filed against the Denzil Douglas administration last week. The first, which was submitted two years ago, never came up for debate in Parliament because it was stalled since legal proceedings were filed in the courts. Mr. Douglas is facing stiff opposition. This means that there are now six elected members on the opposition side as opposed to five on the government bench. However, there are two government senators and the attorney general sitting along with Mr. Douglas.
Elections in both Guyana and St. Kitts and Nevis are due next year, and polling in five other Caricom states — Trinidad and Tobago, Jamaica, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Dominica and Suriname — is also scheduled for 2015. Incidentally, general elections are also expected to be held in the VI next year.
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