Diplomats from the United States, Britain, Canada and the European Union (EU) were yesterday briefed on the process of elections preparation utilized by the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM).
GECOM Public Relations Officer (PRO) Yolanda Ward confirmed to Stabroek News that at the request of the representatives they met with GECOM “to get an update as to what the preparation is like for elections and what are some of the possible things to consider in terms of preparing for an elections considering the legal timelines.”
“It was more of an informative session so that they can get an update from GECOM,” Ward explained noting that the representatives indicated to GECOM that while they have been reading a lot in the media they preferred to have a one-on-one engagement with the agency. The western diplomats have remained tightlipped on their interactions with the government and the opposition in the aftermath of the December 21st motion of no confidence which mandates general elections within three months.
Ward noted that the representatives did not raise any concerns and were not provided any information that is not already in the public domain.
Last week, a meeting between commissioners of GECOM and the Government and Opposition Chief Whips on the electoral body’s preparedness for general and regional elections ended without any clear indication of how soon the polls could be held.
“This is a massive filibuster to make sure elections are not held within the 90 days as required by the Constitution, or even any modicum of trying to make it be held within reasonable time,” Opposition Chief Whip Gail Teixeira said afterward.
Both she and Government Chief Whip Amna Ally told the media that the meeting ended in a stalemate and that Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo and President David Granger would have to decide on the way forward.
During the meeting there were arguments for and against the holding of the elections and the Chairman, retired judge James Patterson, terminated the meeting, Ally said, “because it was going nowhere as far as I am concerned.”
The opposition-nominated commissioners, she added, were giving timelines to suit a 90-day period within which elections could be held but both the GECOM Secretariat and the coalition-nominated commissioners do not see it as being feasible within that time span.
