President Donald Ramotar is playing a dangerous game by failing to name a date for general elections with power struggles within the PPP also playing a role in the delay as Ramotar wants to settle his candidacy even as others argue that he cannot win a plurality, according to AFC leader Khemraj Ramjattan.
Ramotar, who led the PPP to its worst showing in decades, will now have to call general elections two years before his term ends.
On November 10 last year, he suspended Parliament to avoid a motion of no-confidence which was to be piloted on the same day by AFC MP Moses Nagamootoo and which was expected to bring down the government and trigger fresh elections.
Ramotar’s government has found little support for the suspension which critics have argued has shut down the legislative branch of government and the forum through which the people’s representatives are heard. Last month, amid political deadlock and facing growing criticism over his decision to suspend parliament, Ramotar announced that he will call general elections but declined to name a date, saying that he will “announce further steps” in this direction early next year.
However, he has not yet named a date for the elections and parliament remains suspended. Notwithstanding, Ramotar has indicated that he will be the PPP’s presidential candidate again.
Ramjattan, who left the PPP and later helped to form the AFC, yesterday told Stabroek News that the President is playing for time. “This was always his placatory tool to keep all stakeholders at bay, especially the international and regional influencers. He promised all of them that it will be soon…” the AFC leader stated. He said that some at the regional level believed that Ramotar would have identified the date during his New Year’s address but this was not to be.
“It is a very dangerous game the President is playing. There is a seething anger that he is being allowed to get away with … knocking out that beacon of hope, the Parliament through prorogation,” he asserted.
He said that as a result, there are clusters of people who he described as radicals and adventurists, who will contemplate other actions.
“Quite frankly, I too believe that we cannot go on like this for much longer. But I believe that it is into that … cycle that the PPP wants to entrap and throw us into. We have to evade and avoid the … provocation,” the AFC leader declared.
Ramjattan said his initial belief was that elections will be in held in April but now believes that it will be held shortly thereafter.
Firstly, he said, the President wants a couple of weeks to settle his candidacy. “… (PPP General Secretary and Home Affairs Minister) Clement Rohee is giving him huge trouble. But the problem is not only Clement.
A number of his top echelons are advising that neither he nor Clement can win a plurality in view of the PPP unpopularity,” Ramjattan said.
Secondly, the President also wants to use State resources to execute community projects which can win back some support for him and this will take some time, he added.
To keep the pressure on the government to call elections, the AFC will intensify its bottom house and public meetings in the upcoming weeks while also issuing releases and urging international and regional pressure as well as walking the ground to persuade change, the AFC leader said.
