-says looks forward to elections `being held as appropriate’
Stating that it is carefully following developments connected to the December 21 motion of no-confidence, the European Union (EU) yesterday upped the pressure on the Guyana Government, calling on all stakeholders to uphold the constitution.
The EU did not identify any particular stakeholder but the statement would be interpreted by political watchers to be referring to the government which has been accused of breaching the constitution and disregarding a decision of the court on Thursday in relation to the motion of no confidence.
The EU’s statement comes on the heels of another on Friday by United Nations Resident Representative, Mikiko Tanaka who said that she hoped that the “Executive, will demonstrate its integrity and respect of Guyana’s constitution and the judiciary that constitute the foundations of rule of law and good governance”.
Yesterday’s statement from the EU also said that it looks forward to free and fair elections being held as appropriate and in line with constitutional provisions. That was a clear indicator that it expects early elections in accordance with the 90-day timeline set out in the constitution after a successful motion of no confidence.
It also urged the expeditious handling of related court cases for the benefit of the people and in view of pending Foreign Direct Investments (FDI). The reference to FDI underlies growing concerns that the current period of political uncertainty could be detrimental to foreign investment.
Despite the rulings by Chief Justice Roxane George on Thursday upholding the vote of Charrandass Persaud and the 33 to 32 margin for the no-confidence vote, the government has remained in defiance of Article 106 (6) and (7) which mandates that the Cabinet resigns and elections be held in 90 days.
Up to Sunday, at the commissioning of the PNCR office at Vreed-en-Hoop, Region Three, President David Granger was unyielding and showed no acknowledgment that Cabinet had resigned. He said that the government will challenge the no-confidence motion all the way to the Caribbean Court of Justice. Legal observers have said that while it is within the government’s right to pursue the appeals, the strictures of article 106 (6) and (7) are in force as no stay or conservatory order has been granted by the court. Therefore, they say, the government has to accept that the Cabinet no longer functions and it has to name a date for general elections.
The statement issued yesterday by the EU follows:
“The Delegation of the European Union in Guyana continues to closely follow the developments after the no-confidence vote in the National Assembly on 21, December 2018.
“The Delegation of the European Union calls on all concerned bodies and stakeholders to uphold the Constitution, respecting democratic procedures and the rule of law. Procedures should be managed efficiently, with openness and transparency.
“In this regard, the Delegation of the European Union welcomes the expeditious handling of the related court cases so far and hopes that the further legal process can be expedited, for the benefit of Guyana, its people and its development, in view of pending Foreign Direct Investments [FDI’s].
“The Delegation of the European Union looks forward to free and fair elections being held, as appropriate, and in line with all constitutional provisions.”
Tanaka made her statement while addressing a ceremony to officially launch the United Nations-designated World Inter-faith Harmony Week 2019 at the National Cultural Centre.
She said: “(Sustainable Development Goal) SDG 16 recognises that building peaceful, just and inclusive societies that provide equal access to justice and that are based on respect for human rights including the rights of development requires effective rule of law and good governance on all levels, and are transparent, effective and accountable to institutions”.
She noted that the recent political developments that were trigged by the no-confidence vote of December 21st are a test for the country’s strength and integrity as it relates to the effectiveness of the rule of law and good governance.
“It is hoped that the third arm of the state, the Executive, will demonstrate its integrity and respect of Guyana’s constitution and the judiciary that constitute the foundations of rule of law and good governance,” Tanaka added after noting the actions of the legislature and the judiciary.
