Category: Politics

By Micheal Younge  President Donald Ramotar has downplayed talk of calling snap elections as the opposition continues to flex its muscle in the 65-seat National Assembly which it controls. During an exclusive interview on Monday, President Ramotar told Guyana Times International that he had not given much thought to the whole concept of snap elections at this early stage in the management of the country following the November 28 polls. The president, who is also the General Secretary of the People’s Progressive Party/ Civic, said snap elections were not dependent…

Head of the Presidential Secretariat (HPS), Dr Roger Luncheon warned recently that the one-seat majority that the combined opposition hold in Parliament, should not be used by them, as an opportunity to render counter-productive measures for Guyana’s development. He noted that the sittings of the 10th Parliament thus far, moreso the last one, continues to be a matter of concern for Cabinet. He added that the attempts by the A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) and Alliance For Change (AFC) to undo and revise laws, rules, and conventions, took an…

The Organisation of American States (OAS) has called for a complete review of the procedures used to tabulate, transmit, and declare both the preliminary and final results of future elections in Guyana. The Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) was criticised for the sloth in which it declared last year’s results. In its final report on the conduct of the November 28, 2011 polls, which it monitored, the OAS also called for additional mechanisms to be implemented to secure electoral materials at all times. The body also urged the strengthening and promotion…

Russian President Dmitry Medvedev has extended a congratulatory message to Guyana on the occasion of its 42nd Republic Day anniversary and the country’s ambassador to Guyana, Nikolay Smirnov passed on the message to President Donald Ramotar on Tuesday, February 21. The ambassador, accompanied by head of the consular section of the Embassy of the Russian Federation Denis Kopyl met the head of state at the Office of the President to deliver the message and discuss the two countries’ bilateral relations and plans that will further strengthen ties. Guyana became a…

By Ariana Gordon President Donald Ramotar on February 10, warned the National Assembly that his administration will not be held at ransom by any intractable posture by the opposition while stressing the importance of the House working together in the best interest of all citizens. “As willing however as my government is to exercise patience, forbearance, and reasonableness in the interest of all of our people, my administration will not be held ransom to intractable postures,” the president said in his inaugural speech to the National Assembly in which he…

The combined opposition on February 10 took control of the Committee of Selection, which is responsible for the composition of all other committees in the Parliament, with five seats to government’s four seats. Representing government on the committee are Prime Minister Samuel Hinds, Presidential Advisor on Governance Gail Teixeira, Agriculture Minister Dr Leslie Ramsammy and Indranie Chandarpal. Sitting on the committee for the opposition are Chief Whip Amna Ally, Joseph Harmon, Volda Lawrence, Dr George Norton of the A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) and Khemraj Ramjattan of the Alliance…

By Michael Younge  Amid criticisms by the government of opposition control over some of the key positions in the National Assembly, Opposition Leader Brigadier (retired) David Granger said the parliamentary opposition political parties were in no way abusing their combined majority in the House. Granger in an interview with Guyana Times International last Sunday, said that both the Alliance For Change (AFC) and the A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) have been demonstrating independence and responsibility in the discharge of their parliamentary duties. His comments came on the heels of…