Two members of the US House of Representatives wrote US Secretary of State John Kerry on February 24th calling for a reassessment of Washington’s policy to Guyana following the prorogation of Parliament.
Hakeem Jeffries and Yvette Clarke, who represent separate districts of New York in their missive noted that on November 10 last year, President Donald Ramotar had suspended Parliament just as it was gathering to debate a motion of no confidence in the government lodged by the Alliance for Change.
“The Parliament’s suspension has silenced the voices of the people’s elected representatives. Consequently, the entire country is now being government by the Executive Branch. We believe that the United States and the rest of the international community must come together to foster a resolution to this crisis so that full democratic governance may be restored”, the letter released to the media by Caribbean Guyana Institute for Democracy, stated.
Ramotar yesterday announced that Parliament would be dissolved on February 28. Once the dissolution occurs, elections have to be held within three months. Ramotar has been heavily criticised for proroguing Parliament and then not dissolving Parliament at the same time that he named May 11th 2015 as the date for general elections.
The letter added “It is extremely important to preserve the democratic rights of the Guyanese people. Therefore, we ask the United States government to lead the international community in an examination of the alleged violations by President Ramotar. America must encourage President Ramotar to respect the Guyana Constitution and the will of the people”.
