President Donald Ramotar has written Opposition Leader David Granger to reiterate his administration’s willingness to meet with the opposition on matters of importance to the Guyanese people.
In the letter, which was made public by the Office of the President (OP) yesterday, Ramotar also expressed concern about what he said was the “media-based communication” being utilised by Granger.
His letter came days after Granger announced to the nation plans for public protests to press demands for the holding of long delayed local government elections, following the president’s failure to act on a request to set a date for them.
Ramotar had sought clarification from him on the request, after the main opposition APNU, of which Granger is the leader, publicly indicated its intention to support a no-confidence motion against the government. Should the motion be passed, it would trigger the holding of new general elections and it is unlikely that both local and general elections can be held within the same calendar year.
In light of APNU’s heightened campaign for local government polls alongside its support for the no-confidence motion, Granger has been accused of sending mixed signals but has dismissed the criticism.
In his latest letter to Granger, Ramotar said he was reiterating the government’s “continued commitment” to meet with the opposition on matters of importance to the people.
He noted reports of Granger’s plans to commence protests in support of his demands for local government elections as well as calls for meetings with the administration on other critical issues affecting Guyana.
“I must, for the record, express my deep reservation about this media based communication style you have recently adopted in dealing with my Office,” he wrote.
“There is nothing that my team and I have done to prompt you to disregard our usual format. As such, I again extend to you an opportunity at your convenience to meet on these critical issues,” he added.
Ramotar pointed out that he would be overseas at the annual United Nations General Assembly from yesterday until to Tuesday, and that during that time his team would remain on standby. In a televised address to the nation last Thursday, Granger said the Guyanese people face “a grave threat to their constitutional liberties and privileges” and declared that the time has come for all good people “to demand their inalienable right to elect the persons they want to represent them in their towns, villages and neighbourhoods.”
Local government elections, due to be held every three years, were last held in 1994 and have been continually delayed since 1997.
