Secretary General of the Union of South American Nations (UNASUR) Ernesto Samper yesterday said that the grouping was concerned that Guyana’s parliament has remained prorogued.
He was responding to a question from Stabroek News.
Samper, a former President of Colombia, said that UNASUR is aware of Guyana’s current political climate and that in a meeting with President Donald Ramotar yesterday morning it was discussed that an elections support mission would be established to oversee the pending general elections.
He said that Ramotar had made the request to have a UNASUR mission of electoral observers be organized and prepared to offer regional support. Samper stated that he was not told by the president of any possible election dates but that he remained convinced that Ramotar will be naming a date soon.
Last evening after meeting with members of Cabinet, President Ramotar announced that May 11, 2015 will be the date set for general elections.
Samper was asked by Stabroek News if during his first visit to Guyana he had met with members of the opposition parties or members of civil society that have called for the resumption of parliament. He replied that his visit was too short and did not accommodate such interactions.
UNASUR’s Secretary General was speaking at a press conference at the Foreign Affairs Ministry. Speaking to Stabroek News afterwards Samper said that the observer team would be very similar to the team that was sent to Paraguay at the Impeachment of former President Fernando Lugo in 2012. He said that the missions that are sent are similar and a team has already been organized for Suriname’s May elections.
Since November 10 the National Assembly has been prorogued as the government attempted to block the Alliance For Change’s no-confidence motion from being tabled and passed. Ramotar has held steadfast that the prorogation of the Parliament was done in an attempt to encourage dialogue between the political parties. The opposition parties however declared that suspension of the legislative branch of government was undemocratic and stated that there would be no talks until Parliament resumed.
Earlier this month, UK High Commis-sioner Andrew Ayre called for the president to reconvene the National Assembly warning that prorogation had put the country on a dangerous path. He had told members of the media previously that while his discussions with Ramotar and his cabinet are confidential “the central message is absolutely clear Parliament should re-sit in Guyana and get on with the business of taking this country forward.”
The High Commissioner had stated that the Charter of the Commonwealth was being transgressed, citing the central role Parliament plays in democracy.
According to the Charter, “Parlia-ments and representative local governments and other forms of local governance are essential elements in the exercise of democratic governance.”
The Charter states that separation of powers is fundamental. “We recognise the importance of maintaining the integrity of the roles of the Legislature, Executive and Judiciary. These are the guarantors in their respective spheres of the rule of law, the promotion and protection of fundamental human rights and adherence to good governance,” it states.
Ayre noted that Guyana as a member of the Commonwealth is bound by the principles of the Charter.
