Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo yesterday called retired judge James Patterson’s continued occupation of the post of Guyana Elections Com-mission (GECOM) Chair-man “untenable,” while saying that he could have a new list of nominees ready within hours for President David Granger’s consideration.
Jagdeo made the statements yesterday even as efforts continued to set up a meeting between the Granger administration and the opposition for consensus on a way forward in wake of the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) upholding the validity of last December’s no-confidence vote against the government as well as finding that the appointment of Patterson breached the constitution.
The passage of the motion requires the resignation of Cabinet and the holding of new polls within a three-month period, unless an extension is agreed on by a two-thirds majority of the National Assembly. However, that time expired during the legal battle over its validity and Jagdeo has so far shut the door on any extension.
The court is due to make orders next Monday based on submissions by the parties to the proceedings and it has asked both sides to determine the orders that should be issued based on its findings.
Speaking at a press conference, Jagdeo yesterday said that he remains optimistic that an agreement could be reached before Monday and attorneys for his team would be working around clock with their counterparts for it to be realised, but he made clear that his party was not buckling to any suggestion for an election after a three-month period. “If the president accepts the ruling, we can reach consensus tomorrow. We can put people’s mind to ease in this whole country,” he said.
He, however, added that Patterson has to be replaced as his “continuation as Chairman is untenable.” As it pertains to Patterson’s replacement, Jagdeo said that he can “can have a list ready in a matter of hours consistent with the CCJ.”
Jagdeo was hopeful that the CCJ’s orders speaks directly to Patterson’s replacement since he believes that the “President can use this as an excuse to delay the appointment of a Chairman.”
The Opposition Leader also said he believes that GECOM can be ready within three months since it would legally have to do so upon the passage of the motion.
Responding to President Granger’s assertion that the voters’ list is corrupted and cannot form the basis for credible polls, Jagdeo reminded that the list was the same that government’s three commissioners at GECOM “deemed good” as at April 30th. “Now, suddenly, this list is outdated and corrupted and needs updating?” he questioned.
Government-nominated elections commissioners, however, have been pushing for a new national house-to-house registration exercise to create a new list.
Jagdeo also accused the government of seeking to mislead the public by claiming that those who would have attained the age of 18 would not be able to vote if the current list is used. He deemed the assertion “a total falsehood.”
Jagdeo pointed out that there have been at least three cycles of continuous registration and that if anyone has not been registered then this could be done during a period for claims and objections and registration. He said the government’s call for house-to-house registration is just a delaying tactic to buy more time to campaign. “This falsehood that he perpetuates… it’s a total lie. It’s beneath the president to so flagrantly lie to the people of our country. It’s a flagrant lie,” he added.
The President has said that he was committed to credible elections and while he holds the power to make the proclamation for elections to be held, he could only do so on advice from GECOM as to its readiness. However, Jagdeo has said the president no longer has the discretion to declare a date for polls as the constitution stipulates the timeframe upon the passage of a no-confidence motion against the government.
“I cannot make a proclamation unless I am informed by GECOM. We have already gone to parliament to get money for GECOM. We are committed to house-to-house registration. The old list is invalid, it is expired and it is corrupted. We are doing everything we have been advised by GECOM. It is an autonomous agency, and we have given them the money. And as soon as the chairman of GECOM advises me that they are ready for elections, I will make a proclamation. Elections Day will be on that day,” Granger said.
“It is my duty, it is not the duty of the leader of the opposition to decide when elections will be held. I don’t want a situation like we had in Nigeria, in which 2 o’clock in the morning, the Elections Commission calls up the Government and says elections cannot be held. GECOM has to inform me and as soon as I get that information, I will make a proclamation,” he emphasised.
Granger said that having heard from GECOM already for the year, he needs to know its needs and limitations and if the electoral body is in a state of preparedness, even as he suggested that the opposition should be blamed for holding back GECOM’s work.
Prepared to meet
Meanwhile, Director-General of the Ministry of the Presidency Joseph Harmon yesterday said that the government was open to a meeting Jagdeo.
“If in fact that there is a request from the Leader of the Opposition for a meeting, we will accept that and meet. But in this case, we have made it clear that we are prepared to meet and we will invite the leader of the opposition to a meeting,” he told reporters yesterday on the sidelines of an event that was held at the University of Guyana.
Granger was also at the University for the opening but he did not entertain questions and left swiftly after the function.
While Granger has not yet commented on what government intends to do, Harmon hinted that it would wait on the CCJ’s ruling even as he pointed out that by the end of
yesterday afternoon, the president would dispatch a letter inviting Jagdeo to a meeting.
“The letter has not been dispatched as yet but the President has indicated his interest in meeting with the Leader of the Opposition to discuss the political situation developing after the ruling of the CCJ and certainly after the consequential orders ruling that will come on the 24th,” he said.
When asked if government had crafted any proposals, he added, “No, not as yet. That is why we are very careful about inviting to a meeting, because once you have a meeting, you have to have a very clear agenda.”
He said that last Tuesday government met as a Cabinet and discussed the CCJ’s decision “but the consequential orders will impose on the preliminary orders, the true thinking of the CCJ.”
Harmon stressed the importance of having a structured meeting between leaders from both sides. “As a nation, we don’t have to wait on the CCJ to tell us to meet. We have been meeting, and even before we went to the CCJ, we have always met. That is why I said earlier that it is in the interest of Guyana that we meet. We will meet and continue to meet. The president had always said, and even at the last meeting with the Leader of the Opposition, said he was open to meeting,” Harmon said.
“We are going to meet at the convenience of the two leaders… The president has always said that he remains open to engagement with the Leader of the Opposition as it relates to development in our country. This is an opportunity that is provided for them to meet. Certainly, it will have to be at the convenience of both parties and a letter to that extent will be dispatched to the Leader of the Opposition later on in the day,” he added.
Asked what government believes Patterson’s next move should be given that the court said that his appointment was flawed, Harmon said that he could not say. “I cannot say what Mr. James Patterson will do at this point in time. All I can say is that the president has made it clear that he is prepared to meet with the Leader of the Opposition to discuss matters of national interest and at that meeting will take place at the convenience of the two persons,” he stressed.
