Government officially files Appeal in No-Confidence cases

Attorney General Basil Williams has officially filed the Government’s appeal in the no-confidence cases.

In his pleadings to the Court, the Attorney General said the Chief Justice, Roxanne George- Wiltshire erred and misdirected herself in law when she ruled that the motion of no-confidence upon a division vote of 33:32 Members of the National Assembly was validly passed as the requisite majority of all the elected members of the National Assembly pursuant to article 106 (6) of the Constitution.

He is also pointing out that the Chief Justice also erred and misdirected herself in law when she ruled that the Speaker’s Ruling that the motion of no confidence was properly passed was correct. The Government’s position is that the Chief Justice erred in law and her decision was unreasonable and cannot be supported having regard to the evidence.

The Government wants the Court of Appeal to set aside the decision of the Chief Justice with regard to the vote being properly carried by a majority.

In addition to that, the Attorney General also wants the Court to rule that the Chief Justice erred and misdirected herself in law when she ruled that the passage of the motion of no confidence requires that the Cabinet shall resign on the date of the motion’s passage.

He also wants that ruling to be thrown out by the Court of Appeal.

The Opposition Leader, The Speaker of the National Assembly and Attorney Christopher Ram are listed as those to be affected by the Appeal, along with the Attorney General.

The Government has said that it will take the case all the way to the Caribbean Court of Justice if there is need for that.

Chief Justice Roxanne George-Wiltshire handed down her rulings in the no-confidence matters last week after reviewing a number of submissions in the three matters taken before her. The matters all relate to the no-confidence motion and vote against the Government.

Former Government MP Charrandass Persaud voted along with the Opposition in the motion against his own government. He hurried out of Guyana the following morning.