Jagdeo requests meeting with President after winning no-confidence motion

The request was made on Friday night moments after Government MP, Charandaas Persaud of the AFC, defected and voted with the Opposition PPP in moving the no confidence motion against the government. 

Jagdeo requests meeting with President after winning no-confidence motion

Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo has asked the State Minister, Joe Harmon, to inform the President that he would like to meet with him.

The request was made on Friday night moments after Government MP, Charandaas Persaud of the AFC, defected and voted with the Opposition PPP in moving the no confidence motion against the government.

Persaud’s decision to sway the vote means that elections will have to be called within three months or at a time agreed to by two-thirds of the National Assembly.

In an interview with News Source in the Members Lounge at Parliament, Mr. Jagdeo said the vote and the outcome of the no confidence motion are unprecedented and it will now be time to focus on moving forward.

He said he would like to meet with the President to look at moving forward.  President David Granger is currently being treated for cancer.  Jagdeo said he is maintaining his position that no cost or effort should be spared to ensure that the President is nursed back to full health.

Questioned by News Source whether he would agree to delay the calling of elections because of the President’s health issues, Jagdeo said although he has been assured that the President will make a full recovery, he still wants to meet with him on a number of issues.

President Granger has been flying out to Cuba for his medical treatment over the past two months. He is expected to leave again later this month.

In a post-sitting press conference, a dejected Prime Minister, Moses Nagamootoo said the Government will have to accept the vote and move forward. He said it was surprising and there was no indication that Mr. Persaud would have voted that way.

While there may have been no indication, it appears as though Persaud’s mind was made up long before the debate began and even as he sat for lunch with his Government colleagues. After his vote, he issued a written statement that outlined his position and the reason for his vote.

He said his vote was one of conscience and he had become tired of some of the things that had been done by the Government.

 

 

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