The Ethnic Relations Commission (ERC) has called for the country’s political leaders to meaningfully engage each other in order to resolve the current impasse over the holding of general elections and the appointment of a Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) Chairperson.
“…[It] is clear that a political solution has to be found. Therefore, in the best interest of our dear nation and its people, the ERC urges the political leadership to meaningfully engage each other to derive the much desired and mutually agreed solutions so as to break the current impasse,” the ERC said in a statement yesterday.
The statement came one day after the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) declined to fix timelines for the holding of general elections, which are due as a result of the passage of a no-confidence motion against the government last year.
The court had expressed the hope that political actors on both sides would exercise their responsibilities “with integrity,” and in accordance with the Constitution, which requires the holding of polls.
The CCJ has also said that President David Granger and Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo should embark upon and conclude the process of appointing a new GECOM Chairperson as soon as possible given the need for fresh elections. Granger has said that the appointment of a GECOM Chair is crucial, while Jagdeo has maintained that the polls need to be held within three months as originally contemplated by the Constitution.
The ERC statement said it is imperative that the leaders meet soonest in an atmosphere of respect, with unfettered determination by all parties involved to put the welfare of Guyana and Guyanese above any semblance of partisanship. “The Commission remains optimistic that with magnanimity and the placement of the nation’s welfare foremost, the current political situation would be resolved,” it added.
The ERC further said that the current impasse is apt for a demonstration of willingness from both sides to genuinely work together in pursuit of a common national goal. It also affords the opportunity to show and convince that Guyana, through its entrusted political leadership, can deliver that common desire by resolving issues amicably. “That will undoubtedly precipitate a positive impact for harmony and good relations among our Guyanese brothers and sisters, not the least, the political leadership in which we repose our confidence,” it added.
