US, UK, EU call on President to immediately set election date

-say gov’t in breach of constitution and this will hinder development support

The United States, the United Kingdom and the European Union yesterday called on President David Granger to set an election date immediately in light of the advice he received earlier in the day from GECOM and they lamented that the government is in breach of the Constitution and this would hinder their ability to support Guyana’s development needs.

The joint statement read as follows:

“The United States of America Ambassador to Guyana, H.E. Ambassador Sarah-Ann Lynch, United Kingdom High Commissioner to Guyana, H.E. Greg Quinn and the European Union Ambassador to Guyana, H.E. Ambassador Fernando Ponz Cantó joint statement on the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) proposed elections timeframe.

“The United States, United Kingdom and the European Union thank the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) for devising a proposed elections timeframe for conducting General and Regional Elections.

“However, we deeply regret that, by surpassing September 18, the Government is currently in breach of the Constitution following its failure to adhere to the decisions of the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) on 18 June and its subsequent orders.

“This situation comes at great cost to the people of Guyana. The prevailing political uncertainty undermines Guyanese institutions, compromises economic opportunities and delays development across all areas including infrastructure, education, health, and social services. It also hinders our ability to support Guyana’s development needs.

“We therefore call upon the President to set an elections date immediately in full compliance with Guyana’s constitution.”

Analysts questioned whether the statement would have any impact on the Granger Administration’s recalcitrance since there are no urgent projects reliant on funding from any of the three.

It was pointed out that the statement would have been effective if it had been issued on or around June 18 when the Caribbean Court of Justice ruled that the constitutional articles requiring general elections within three months of that date were in effect.

Critics have said that the US’s and UK’s policies towards the Granger administration are increasingly driven by their desire not to upset oil production plans for ExxonMobil and Tullow which could explain why the statement about the unconstitutionality of the government was issued yesterday when it no longer had any effect.