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(CNS): On Friday, the PPM secured enough signatures from MPs now sitting on the opposition benches to call a special parliamentary meeting for Tuesday in order to hold a no-confidence vote in the government. However, the vote could still fail. On Saturday, there were indications that they still had not locked in the necessary tenth vote.
While rumour and speculation about a potential new government led by the PPM swirled through the community on Saturday — among political pundits and across social media — it was still not clear who would be the tenth vote to bring down PACT.
On documents submitted to House Speaker Kathy Ebanks-Wilks by the opposition, Julianna O’Connor-Connolly’s name was on the letter requesting the meeting of parliament, but she had not signed it.
In a press release, Opposition Leader Roy McTaggart said the opposition was satisfied that other members would also be signing. The letter was accepted by the speaker, and the meeting has now been confirmed for 10:00am Tuesday.
“The letter was signed by a sufficient number of elected members to effect a meeting,” McTaggart said. “Those signing included members of the Progressive Opposition and the three independent opposition members. We are satisfied that other members will also be signing the letter.
“As I indicated on Thursday, it is our duty as representatives of our people to act to restore stable and effective government to these Islands,” McTaggart added after the motion of no confidence, seconded by Deputy Opposition Leader Joey Hew, was filed with and accepted by the speaker.
However, McTaggart gave no indication that he expected to become premier if the Progressives succeed in bringing down Panton’s government or if he has had to forego the top job in order to pick off an additional PACT member. There is also no indication at this point what the outcome would be if the PPM cannot tempt the tenth MP to join them in a new line-up.
Whatever happens, Premier Wayne Panton will struggle to cling on as premier, given the numbers he is faced with. But if the divisions that exist, not just among PACT but among all MPs, cannot be resolved, a new line-up may be difficult to secure and could force him to call early elections.
Much of the infighting within PACT has been about development and the clash with the premier’s stated and genuine belief in the need for a sustainable future.
If the baton is passed to a PPM administration, it is almost certain that the current unchecked development is likely to get even worse, despite broad public sentiment that development, especially high-end luxury condos or commercial projects, should be curtailed until the new much-awaited and long-delayed national development plan is rolled out.
There was no mention of any pressure being applied by the development lobby in McTaggart’s motion of no confidence, which focuses on the hung parliament caused by McKeeva Bush’s departure from PACT this past week and what the opposition leader referred to as PACT’s inability to pull together the 2024/25 budget.
See the no-confidence motion and letter below:
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