GEORGETOWN, Guyana, CMC – Donald Ramotar will be sworn in today as the new President of Guyana as voters in this Caribbean Community (CARICOM) country are being urged to accept the results of the November 28 poll.
Ramotar 61, an economist, will take the oath of office on the lawns of the State House at 1.00 pm (local time). He succeeds Bharrat Jagdeo, who was barred by the constitution from seeking a third consecutive term in office.
Ramotar will lead a minority government after the ruling People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C), which has ruled this country for the past 19 years, won 32 seats in the 65-member National Assembly.
A Partnership for National Unity (APNU), an amalgam of opposition parties that included the main opposition People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR) won 26 seats while the minority opposition the Alliance for Change ( AFC) took away the remaining seven seats, ensuring that the combined opposition will control the National Assembly for the first time in Guyana’s history.
Meanwhile, members of the diplomatic corps and the Private Sector Commission ( PSC) have called on Guyanese voters to accept the results announced by the Guyana Elections Commission ( GECOM).
Speaking at a joint press briefing, PSC Chairman Ramesh Dookhoo reminded all political parties and their supporters of the “ irrevocable harm that would be done to the country’s economy and its financial stability” should they refuse to accept the results.
“The PSC condemns any attempt by any party to resort to any illegal protest aimed at creating an environment of public fear and destabilisation of our dear country Guyana. The people have spoken through a democratic process endorsed by all of the international observers, it is time now that the country returns to normalcy and gets on with the business of giving expression to the duly elected government and the National Assembly to the will of the people of Guyana.”
Dookhoo congratulated the people of Guyana for “ their dedication to free and fair elections”, noting that it is critical at this important moment in Guyana’s history regardless of party affiliation, that Guyanese join together and “ work towards the higher principle of stable, effective, and transparent democratic governance”.
Meanwhile, the diplomatic community in a statement said that adherence to democratic principles involves respect for the rule of law and the maintenance of peace, order, and security.
“ It is our fervent hope that all Guyanese respect the democratic outcome as expressed by the people of Guyana through their votes in the recent elections,” the statement said, noting that the results of the elections offer “an historic opportunity for the people of Guyana to come together and to work across party lines to the interest of all people in Guyana.
“Our countries look forward to working closely with the newly- elected government and with all parties in government to support unified national efforts to build a prosperous secure and democratic Guyana.”
The United States Ambassador D Brent Hardt said the elections represented a “ a win- win” situation for Guyana.
“It is a sensitive time and it’s a new time and will require negotiation and there will be politics involved, but I would just hope, and I think I speak on behalf of my colleagues to say that we think this is an historic election and that the opportunity should be seized.”
The calls for acceptance of the results came as supporters of the APNU took to the streets on Friday in protest.
But the PSC warned that the demonstrations are contributing to the fear of businessmen and more importantly, the loss of revenue.
“We are losing a lot of money, businesses are closed, we are not going to work, some of the protesters we got reports are saying ‘ no work, no school, no Donald’ – that kind of political rhetoric is go ing on in the streets,” Dookhoo said.
“I want to urge those people who are on the streets to be cautious, to go home, and follow the di rections of their political lead ers, and we gather that their political leaders are saying to them ‘ to let’s cool down’,” he added.
