The country is still in a constitutional crisis as a result of President Donald Ramotar announcing a date for national and regional elections (N&RE) even while Parliament remains prorogued, the Guyana Trades Union Congress (GTUC) said.
In a statement on Tuesday after Ramotar had made the announcement in an address to the nation, the GTUC said it noted that no mention was made as to when the prorogation will be lifted and the Parliament dissolved, paving the way for the stated elections.
“GTUC condemns the continued prorogation and the ignoring of this by the Donald Ramotar regime, which must know fully well that the life of Parliament has to end. What the president has done is unprecedented in post-independent Guyana,” the union movement said. Other groups and commentators have also voiced this position.
The GTUC said that the nation should be advised by the constitutional lawyers on “how we proceed since the Ramotar regime has thrown the country into a tailspin. It is the first time the nation has had a date set for N&RE and the life of Parliament continues to exist. This country is sailing in uncharted waters. GTUC calls on the nation and international community to note in the absence of the President saying when the Parliament will be dissolved, the country still faces a constitutional crisis. The GTUC further calls on the opposition and progressive forces, including media, to police this situation and to give leadership to the society.”
The union movement added that in the meanwhile the Ramotar regime continues to spend the workers/taxpayers’ money without the oversight and approval of the nation’s highest decision making arm, the National Assembly.
“This lawless and reckless behaviour must be condemned. It remains a national disgrace that the Guyana parliament has not functioned since July 2014. This means for seven long months and counting the PPP regime has had no oversight. This is akin to having questionable characters in charge of the bank with the vault open and no security system in place,” the GTUC lamented.
