PPP General Secretary Clement Rohee yesterday said that the public needed better preparation for local government elections.
His statement yesterday at a Freedom House press conference mirrored the view two weeks ago of Minister in the Ministry of Local Government, Norman Whittaker.
At a previous press conference, Rohee had cast doubt on whether the Guyana Elections Com-mission (Gecom) was in a state of readiness for the elections.
Yesterday, Rohee reading from a statement, acknowledged that both general elections and local government elections are on the minds of the Guyanese people but then later said there was no “unanimity” in the people’s readiness for any elections.
Rohee said that in terms of local government elections the people were not ready and that “wide consultations” were needed because “this was not a matter that can be easily arrived at.”
The party’s general secretary stated that the People’s Progressive Party was more than ready for both local government and national elections. He said that while Gecom was on record stating that it too was ready, more groundwork was necessary to adequately prepare the people for the process.
Rohee said that although national elections were held every five years there are always numerous issues with persons showing up to vote at incorrect polling stations. However many critics have noted that these “issues” were normal all across the world. The recent statements by top PPP and government officials questioning readiness for the elections have left political analysts with the view that the party doesn’t relish going to local government polls and would much prefer the general election option.
Rohee at one point yesterday stated that during the various consultations across Guyana in relation to the anti-money laundering bill, people stated that action had to be taken and that it may be time to go to the polls (general elections) to which Rohee stated that the party was “heeding the call.”
When asked by Stabroek News why there had been no moves towards either election if the political parties are ready and Gecom has stated that it can be ready once the order is issued, Rohee stated that it was the people that needed more education.
He said that political parties did have a responsibility to “ready the people” but did not go further into whether or not the PPP/C was doing so.
Rohee’s statements come amidst strong public calls for the holding of local government elections by members of the opposition and various stakeholders.
Rohee, also Minister of Home Affairs, denied that the public consultations on the anti-money laundering legislation were being used as a political tool to curry favour with the general public.
