In the face of increasing calls for him to name a date for general elections, President Donald Ramotar last evening said that he has not yet decided when he will make the announcement.
“I haven’t decided as yet but not this weekend but soon, soon,” Ramotar told Stabroek News when asked about a date for his announcement.
Last December, Ramotar cited his desire not to “disrupt” the Christmas season for Guyanese as well as his itinerary for his decision not to name a date. “Because of some of my own itinerary I don’t want to tie myself down to a date but the earliest option, the earliest time, I will be ready to do that,” he told reporters.
Christmas has passed and the President has returned from a state visit to India.
Ramotar had also said that early in the New Year, he intends to announce further steps towards the direction of general and regional elections but he has yet to do so.
Amid political deadlock and facing growing criticism over his decision to suspend parliament, Ramotar had announced that he would call general elections.
On November 10 last year, Ramotar suspended the National Assembly 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 prorogation which critics have argued has shut down the legislative branch of government and the forum through which the people’s representatives are heard. He has come under fire from political parties, civil society and other groupings, with the UK and Organisation of American States, among others, calling on him to end the suspension of parliament.
On Monday, the United Kingdom warned that Guyana is on a “dangerous path” and the country could be referred to a Commonwealth body which deals with serious violators of democracy principles while London’s aid to Guyana could be affected if the suspension of Parliament is not lifted. British High Commissioner to Guyana Andrew Ayre had called on the government to resume Parli-ment without further delay or lay out a timeline for the resumption of Parliamentary democracy.
Leader of the Opposition David Granger believes that the uncertainty surrounding the date for general elections is putting a damper on the economy while the government campaigns at the expense of parliamentary democracy and scrutiny.
The Private Sector Commission has also said that impending elections has put the business community and entire populace in a “wait and see” mode as it pertains to investment and spending.
