Sad News: Guyana has collapsed following a historic vote in Falls After MP Charrandass Persaud Votes Yes to No-Confidence Motion

In a dramatic turn of events, the government of Guyana has collapsed following a historic vote in the National Assembly on December 21, 2018. The motion of no confidence against the ruling coalition, led by the A Partnership for National Unity and Alliance for Change (APNU+AFC), passed by a single vote after a member of the coalition, Charrandass Persaud, a Member of Parliament (MP) from the opposition, voted in favor of the motion.

The 111th sitting of the Eleventh Parliament was a tense and closely watched event. The motion, tabled by the opposition People’s Progressive Party (PPP), sought to declare the government in breach of constitutional provisions and call for fresh general elections. While the opposition had been advocating for this motion for months, no one anticipated the key twist—Persaud, a member of the APNU+AFC, broke ranks with his own party and cast his vote in favor of the motion.

As the voting unfolded, the assembly chamber fell into an air of disbelief. The motion required a simple majority to succeed, and with 33 votes in favor and 32 against, it passed by a narrow margin. Persaud’s unexpected decision left the government reeling. His vote effectively sealed the fate of President David Granger’s administration, triggering a constitutional crisis.

**The Aftermath of the Vote**

Persaud’s defection has caused shockwaves across the political landscape of Guyana. The APNU+AFC coalition, which had been in power since 2015, had relied on a slim parliamentary majority, and Persaud’s switch effectively broke that majority. The ruling coalition quickly denounced the vote, arguing that Persaud’s decision was a betrayal, and called for urgent legal reviews of the circumstances surrounding the vote.

Immediately following the outcome, Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo and other senior government officials called for the dissolution of the National Assembly and for the President to schedule fresh elections within three months as mandated by the Guyanese Constitution. However, the PPP, which now claims victory, has called the motion a clear demonstration of public dissatisfaction with the government’s policies and its governance.

In a public statement, President Granger expressed disappointment with the results but insisted that the ruling coalition would respect the constitutional process and uphold the rule of law. However, the question remains whether the government will be able to mount a legal challenge to the vote or whether it will accept the results and prepare for elections in early 2019.

**Persaud’s Vote and its Significance**

Charrandass Persaud’s vote is seen as a pivotal moment in Guyana’s political history. A former ally of the APNU+AFC, Persaud’s defection marks a personal and political crisis for the ruling coalition. The APNU+AFC had prided itself on its unity and its management of Guyana’s nascent oil wealth, but Persaud’s vote highlights the fractures within the government. He had been under pressure for months from various quarters, including the opposition, to switch allegiance, and his vote now puts the spotlight on the internal divisions that may have been simmering for some time.

Persaud himself did not immediately explain his decision, but in interviews after the vote, he stated that his conscience led him to take the stand he did. His action has sparked intense debate across Guyana, with political analysts questioning the integrity of the coalition’s hold on power and the broader implications for the country’s future governance.

**The Path Forward**

With the government now in a state of flux, all eyes are on the next steps. The opposition is preparing to take advantage of this opportunity, while the ruling coalition is bracing for what could be a lengthy legal and political battle. The coming weeks will undoubtedly be filled with political maneuvering, and the future of Guyana’s government now hinges on the swift resolution of this political crisis and the calling of elections.

For the people of Guyana, this is a moment of significant political change, and the road ahead will require careful navigation to ensure the country’s stability and continued growth.