PNC considers court challenge to Jagdeo decision
THE main opposition People's National Congress (PNC) has not ruled out moving to the courts to challenge the decision by President Janet Jagan to appoint Finance Minister, Mr. Bharrat Jagdeo as her successor. PNC leader Mr. Desmond Hoyte, yesterday told reporters the party's leadership was looking at the matter. This is in the light of Speaker of the House, Mr. Derek Jagan, refusing a motion raised by Hoyte at Monday's sitting to have the matter for debate as of urgent public importance. "The whole process of constitutional succession is being twisted...We find that offensive. We find it unacceptable," Hoyte declared. "We continue to impugn her legitimacy (and) the proposed President is going to find that the position of the People's National Congress will not change", he said. In a notice to the Speaker Monday, Hoyte sought to raise the matter, claiming that the Government was manipulating the Constitution to have Jagdeo appointed President. "It is the view of my party that this devious action will result in increased instability in the country since it is inconsistent with the whole spirit and intent of constitutional provisions," Hoyte's letter said. The PNC, following the December 15, 1997 general elections, filed an injunction against Mrs. Jagan being sworn in as President. However, the court order was served after the President was appointed and a further attempt to have the decision reversed was dismissed by Chief Justice Desiree Bernard. The PNC leader said he has received an invitation to attend Jagdeo's swearing-in this afternoon, but he will not be attending. "People are going to laugh at us throughout the region," he claimed. St. Lucian Prime Minister, Dr. Kenny Anthony has lauded the President's decision to step down for health reasons and says he looks forward to meeting Jagdeo early. Dr. Anthony has been assigned `oversight responsibility' for Guyana by Caribbean Community (CARICOM) leaders. President Jagan in an address to the nation Sunday said that over the last month, she had been giving serious thought to demitting office since she fell ill after returning from the Rio de Janeiro Summit of leaders of the European Union, Latin America and the Caribbean. The President, 78, suffered a mild heart attack and was hospitalised here briefly last month. She then left for more tests at a clinic in Ohio in the United States but these showed there was no need for surgery. However, Head of the Presidential Secretariat, Dr. Roger Luncheon said Friday, Mrs. Jagan has been put on an "aggressive" exercise schedule and medication, and is due back for a re-evaluation of her condition later this year. Under the Constitution, the Prime Minister is next in line if the President resigns. But the governing PPP/Civic alliance has an arrangement under which the PPP gets the Presidency and the Civic component is given the prime ministerial position. Prime Minister Sam Hinds therefore resigned Sunday to allow for Jagdeo's appointment, but he will be renamed after Jagdeo assumes the Presidency today. Hoyte, when questioned yesterday on his willingness to meet Jagdeo when he assumes office, said he will have to "watch and see" how things develop. "I'll have to wait on that invitation, study it and give an appropriate response," the PNC leader offered. (MICHELLE ELPHAGE)
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