Dear Editor,
It seems that when the President of Guyana is acting as head of state, the dissolution of Parliament by him sets the stage for the naming of an election date, He or she names a date that is good for his or her party, but the unfortunate law allows the President that advantage.
We do not have fixed election dates. Secondly we can’t have a fixed date and also have the right to defeat a government by a no-confidence vote.
The President of Guyana has named an election date outside of the context of a dissolution of parliament, or before ever dissolving parliament, as he is entitled to do. This means that in naming an election date the President acted politically or for a political purpose, using a presidential power.
This is the way the President has behaved always. This time he seems to have acted to send a message to influential agencies outside of Guyana. At the same time there is a date publicly given and opposition parties will very likely take that date into account.
Yours faithfully,
Eusi Kwayana
