Jagdeo expects general elections before April 30
-otherwise gov’t will be illegitimate
The Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) has enough time between now and April 30 when the current voters’ list becomes invalid to hold elections, according to Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo who yesterday warned that once this period passes the government becomes illegitimate.
“The timeline is adequate now to hold elections by that particular time (March 19)…but we believe they still have enough room…but if the government refuses to honour the passage of the no confidence motion and they refuse to define a timeline for elections and the constitutional period expires, the government then becomes unconstitutional, illegal [and] illegitimate. The same consequences that we are fearful of will manifest themselves…,” Jagdeo said.
He was speaking at a press conference, during which he disclosed that following talks with President David Granger earlier in the day, it was agreed that the two parliamentary Chief Whips, Gail Teixeira and Amna Ally will meet with GECOM to determine their operational readiness to hold elections by the March 19. That meeting could take place as early as today.
The no confidence motion, in the name of Jagdeo was passed following a `yes’ vote from then government MP Charrandass Persaud on December 21. According to the constitution, the passage of the motion requires Cabinet inclusive of the President to resign and general elections to be held within 90 days.
Jagdeo told reporters at his Church Street office that the PPP is willing to support the extension of the constitutionally required 90 days to hold elections, following the passage of the no confidence motion, closer to April 30 and stressed that what happens next is heavily dependent on the outcome of the meeting with GECOM.
He said that between March 19 and April 30 when the current list is still valid, the PPP is prepared to return to the National Assembly to extend the elections date by a few weeks but not beyond April 30.
“I indicated this at the beginning, a two weeks difference or three weeks difference if that is what we have to all go together to the parliament to extend the timeline by that. In the great scheme of things that will not harm anyone in Guyana and it will not harm us in the PPP,” he said.
Listed on the president’s agenda yesterday for discussions was general and regional elections inclusive of the role of the National Assembly, operational readiness of GECOM, national registration and public information.
The meeting, which was held at the Ministry of the Presidency, lasted for more than an hour and both men were accompanied by a team.
Jagdeo said both sides agreed that it is only the National Assembly that could extend the 90 days deadline and that GECOM’s readiness must be addressed urgently.
Later, responding to questions, he insisted that elections must be held this year and expressed the belief that the president would not have put this issue on the agenda if government did not share this view.
Avoid
Asked whether he felt that government has in fact conceded that elections will be held this year, he said that he wants to avoid the inferences on issues that are not explicit because he doesn’t want to be accused of breaching the spirit of the talks. He explained that he and his team decided that they will share details about the party’s position so that people can draw their own inferences while insisting that he doesn’t want to speak for the government side.
The appointment of a temporary chairman in light of the current GECOM Chairman James Patterson’s illness did not come up during the discussion. “No that never came up,” he said when asked.
Patterson, age 85 has been away from office since November due to illness. He was scheduled to return to work on Tuesday for a planned meeting with the commissioners. Hours before its start the commissioners were informed via telephone that Patterson’s medical leave had been extended following a visit to his doctor the previous day.
Meanwhile, on the issue of national registration, Jagdeo said that during the meeting he and his team pointed out that the current list is valid up to April 30, a fact which was also pointed out by the president. Jagdeo noted that this date goes beyond the 90-day period by almost a month.
Pointing out that neither side had a problem with the list for the recent local government elections, he said “there should not be a problem now.” He reminded that money for national registration for GECOM was provided in this year’s budget and it preceded the passage of the noconfidence motion. “Therefore the three billion dollars set aside for national registration could be used for something else now because national registration would have started sometime in June. That is what GECOM was planning for and it will probably take a good six months to a year to complete. Clearly that can’t be pursued at this point in time. So that is out of the window”.
Jagdeo said that he doesn’t know