Luncheon puts retirement on hold in wake of no confidence vote

Luncheon puts retirement on hold in wake of no confidence vote

The Secretary to the Cabinet and Head of the Presidential Secretariat Dr. Roger Luncheon was getting ready to hang up his political coat and head into retirement at the end of the year, but the move by the Opposition to table and pass a no confidence motion in the government has forced Luncheon to put a pause on his year end retirement plans.

Speaking to journalists on Wednesday at the Presidential Complex where he has worked for the past 22 years in the high ranking positions, Dr. Luncheon said “my plan has certainly been altered by this no confidence motion and its likely outcome”.

He said he was committed to depart his role in government by the end of this year because of his ill health. A few months ago, Dr. Luncheon announced that he was diagnosed with cancer and had opted to not have any treatment administered to him. In addition to that ailment, he has had a recurring back problem which has resulted in him having to rely on the use of a walker to get around.

“I may or I may not live up, both literally and figuratively, to this outcome of the no confidence motion, but if they have elections I would like to have the last opportunity to lay my wares out to the Guyanese public”, Luncheon said.

He added that if there are no early elections, then he will stick to his retirement plans.

The Alliance Force Change intends to move a no confidence motion in the Government when the National Assembly reconvenes in October. Once that motion is passed, the government will have three months to set a date for national elections.  The combined Opposition parties hold the majority in the National Assembly. A Partnership for National Unity which is the larger of the two Opposition parties, has already indicated that it will support the AFC’s no confidence motion.

 

Filed: 10th September, 2014

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