President David Granger has not yet responded to a letter from Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo stating that he is prepared to meet at any time to discuss the current political situation and arrangements for a new GECOM Chairman.
Jagdeo told a press conference at his Church Street office yesterday that he had not “received a response from the President to my letter in which I indicated I was prepared to meet continuously to resolve the issue of a Chairperson of GECOM [Guyana Elections Commission]”.
According to Jagdeo he had hoped the president would’ve addressed the matter with urgency especially since Attorney General Basil Williams told the Caribbean Court of Justice it was Jagdeo who was reluctant to meet
“That was a lie. The whole country knows that President indicated he wished to meet after the consequential orders (of June 24) so the AG misled the court,” Jagdeo stressed, adding that in keeping with the court’s ruling he has no problem sitting with the president so as to arrive at a consensus.
Jagdeo further noted that while the opposition is hoping that the President is prepared to say if any of the 18 names already submitted are acceptable they have started the process of soliciting new names just in case.
“We have gone as far as bringing names from outside of Guyana because as far as we know you can submit names from the Commonwealth,” he said before repeating that his is prepared to engage continuously until the matter is resolved.
On Tuesday, former opposition Chief Whip Gail Teixeira in a letter sent to Director General of the Ministry of the Presidency, Joseph Harmon indicated that Jagdeo is prepared to meet in keeping with the ruling made by the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) on June 18th and following the announcement that Justice (Ret’d) James Patterson has stepped down as Chairman of the GECOM.
She made specific reference to several paragraphs of the Court’s ruling, including paragraph nine, which states that “the most sensible approach …was for the Leader of the Opposition and the President to communicate with each other in good faith and perhaps even meet to discuss, eligible candidates for the position of Chairman before a list is formally submitted.”
“The aim of these discussions must be to agree the names of six persons who fit the stated eligibility requirements and who are not unacceptable to the President. In this regard, the Court noted that the Constitution anticipates that the Leader of the Opposition and the President will conduct themselves in a reasonable and responsible manner, eschew partisanship and seek the best interests of the Republic and the Guyanese people,” the paragraph concludes.
Teixeira requested that the letter and judgment be brought to the President’s attention as soon as possible before advising that contact should be made with her to coordinate meetings between the President and the Leader of the Opposition.
Following the court’s ruling last week, CCJ President Justice Adrian Saunders scheduled a hearing for Monday, June 24 to hear from the parties on the consequential orders. The court expressed its hope that the parties would come to agreement among themselves on the orders to be made. The parties failed to arrive at an agreement.
Government sent an invitation last Friday to Jagdeo, seeking a meeting with him after the expected handing down of the consequential orders by the CCJ on Monday.
“His Excellency, the President extends his warm regards and invites you to meet with him at the Ministry of the Presidency at a time convenient to yourselves, after Monday, June 24th, 2019,” the letter, signed by Harmon, stated.
“His Excellency wishes to discuss the current political situation in Guyana resulting from the decision of the Caribbean Court of Justice, made on Tuesday, June 18, 2019 and the consequential orders which will be made on Monday, June 24, 2019,” it added.
While Jagdeo acknowledged receipt of the letter, he did not respond before Monday’s hearing.
Their representatives reported the situation to the court on Monday and more time was granted in hopes that there would be some productive engagement ahead of the orders being made on July 12th.
