GEORGETOWN, Guyana – The recently formed A New and United Guyana (ANUG) political party, says it supports the idea of extending the deadline for holding fresh regional and general elections here.
But the party said it would only support the move if the elections are held this year.
“We as a political party would support the Leader of the Opposition and we will call for an extension of the time to hold the elections, even if it’s beyond September 18, once the elections are being held this year,” the party’s general secretary, Ralph Ramkarran, said in a Facebook post.
He said he believes both Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo and the main opposition People’s Progressive Party (PPP) “would be inclined to support an extension in the National Assembly even though they have not said so officially”.
The PPP has been calling for the elections as mandated by the Trinidad-based Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) to be held on September 18 in keeping with the Guyana Constitution following the passage of a vote of no confidence in the David Granger administration late last December.
The CCJ in upholding the ruling that the motion of no confidence that had been passed in the Granger administration, said however, it could not insist on the polls being held on any specific date and instead urged all stakeholders to work within the Guyana Constitution to ensure the polls are held.
Under the Guyana Constitution, the elections should take place 90 days after the vote of no confidence is passed. The Constitution also makes provision for an extension of the period based only on a two-thirds majority vote in the Parliament.
Ramkarran said it was incredible that Granger has not found yet decided to call in Jagdeo to discuss setting the date for the elections after the High Court last week ruled that while the house to house registration of voters was not illegal or unconstitutional, it too could not decide on a date for the polls.
He said tongue in cheek that Jagdeo should telephone Granger and remind him “that three months have long elapsed…and that a most generous interpretation September 18 is the date by which the elections must be held.
“Mr President, I am begging you, could you please invite me to a consultation as to the date on which elections could be held?” he added.
The former Speaker of the National Assembly said it is clear that the country is currently in a “tense political situation” and there would be worry for the economic impact as a result of the political situation. (CMC)
