-Ramotar demurs
President Donald Ramotar last night declined to respond definitively to yet another call by the diplomatic community – this time from the EU – for long-awaited local government elections to be held.
“As far as local government elections is concerned I cannot be oblivious to the political situation that exists in this country and further I say not,” the President said.
He was at the time responding to a call made for the running off of Local Government Elections by Head of Delegation of the European Union to Guyana, Robert Kopecky at a reception to mark Europe Day at the envoy’s Bel Air Springs residence.
Analysts say that Ramotar’s statement reflects the widely held view that the government is aiming for general elections and is unprepared to risk a possible mauling at local government polls.
Ramotar’s response garnered much snickering and expressions of shock from guests at the reception especially local politicians.
“This man can’t be serious” said Alliance for Change Leader Khemraj Ramjattan. Other guests covered their faces and some were left questioning if it was really all the president would say.
Local Government elections were last held in 1994 and ever since then has been postponed for various reasons