Dear Editor,
Your media reports say both opposition parties (AFC and APNU) have called on the President to dissolve Parliament and announce a date for general and regional elections. The opposition leaders (and parties) have also made contradictory statements demanding the President end the prorogation and recall parliament, but they have also simultaneously told the President that their first order of business would be a no-confidence motion to end the life of Parliament. So what is the point in recalling Parliament, just to end its life? Compromise does not appear possible as neither side wishes to back down from impractical demands. Elections, therefore, are inevitable given that the combined opposition has stubbornly turned down the President’s invitation for dialogue on recalling Parliament. The question is when is it practical to hold elections given that the population and the business community don’t want political campaigns during holiday seasons. The nation remembers well the effect on business, employees (salaries), transport, etc, when campaigns were held during national holiday seasons (1997, etc). Gecom also says it needs about three months’ notice. So the President does not have much wiggle room given the pressures he faces from business, the population, the combined APNU-AFC opposition, and Gecom on a date for election. An election date is not practical before May.
The opposition was going headlong into the no-confidence motion in November that would have triggered elections and a campaign during the holiday season given that the election period may be up to three months. That has been averted by the presidential prorogation of the National Assembly, saving its life. Dissolving the Assembly in December is not practical as it would cast a gloom over the holiday spirit; it would be the grinch stealing Christmas. The population would punish a party or parties that forced an election campaign during the holiday season. Dissolving the Parliament in January would also be difficult is it would impact on the Mash (February) celebrations and Phagwah (March) spirit of brotherly love. Gecom also needs January to update its electoral list. The Mash and holi celebrations are followed by Easter in April and no one wants to be bothered by selfish politicians (offering impractical promises) when they could be flying kites and going on vacation with families.
It seems, therefore, the earliest an election could be held is May. The parliamentary prorogation also ends, latest in May. Thus, every effort should be made for the parties to cooperate to find a way to recall Parliament now and address the nation’s business if the parties truly have the interests of the population at heart.
Yours faithfully,
Vishnu Bisram
