The opposition remains deadlocked over the selection of the Speaker of the House, as the People’s Progressive Party/Civic ( PPP/ C) reiterates its disappointment in the opposition for violating the tripartite discussions it had agreed on. In a telephone interview, Alliance For Change (AFC) executive member Khemraj Ramjattan said that there has been “no movement”, and that the party is still negotiating with the A Partnership for National Unity (APNU). As for APNU, executive member Dr Rupert Roopnaraine said the parties are testing various propositions, but refuted claims that they…
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Opposition settles on regional representatives
While the opposition parties are still to settle on who they want to be Speaker of the House, they have decided on their list of councillors for the regional democratic councils across Guyana. Alliance For Change (AFC) executive member Khemraj Ramjattan said the party has submitted its candidates to the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM). However, the party will release the names of its councillors in a subsequent press statement, he told Guyana Times International. Similarly, executive member of the A Partnership for National Unity (APNU), Dr Rupert Roopnaraine stated that…
Read MoreAPNU says GECOM’s SoPs don’t match up
The A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) said that its Statement of Polls (SoPs) do not reconcile with the Guyana Elections Commission’s SoPs, prompting the party to renew its calls for the election body to provide its original hard copies for verification. “After a full and careful examination, we have found it impossible to reconcile the two set of SoPs since in a significant number of instances, the SoPs are not identical,” the APNU said in a letter it addressed to GECOM Chairman, Dr Steve Surujbally. The letter which was…
Read MoreOpposition reaches deadlock on selection of House Speaker
The combined opposition’s negotiations to choose a suitable candidate for the position of Speaker of the National Assembly when that august body reconvenes next year seems to have hit a snag, with both the Alliance For Change (AFC) and A Partnership For National Unity (APNU) insisting their respective candidates should occupy the position. The APNU, which had amassed 40 per cent of the votes at the just-concluded elections, has put forward Deborah Backer as its candidate while the AFC has nominated Moses Nagamootoo. However, though APNU is the major opposition…
Read MoreParliament stronger with minority governments – UK think–tank
A United Kingdom-based think-tank believes that without a majority government in office, Parliament becomes more important and more powerful and this forces the opposition to act more responsibly. Pointing out that the Westminster system here preserves for the executive a range of important resources that would help to ensure an effective government, the think tank – UK’s Institute of Government Constitution Unit warned that where the government does not offer enough in the way of concessions, it risks losing bills altogether and when minority presidents seek to govern as if…
Read MoreAPNU announces MPs
The A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) on Tuesday released a list of 25 of its 26 candidates to take up positions in the National Assembly. The 26th name will be released shortly following consultations and discussions on the issue of Speaker of the National Assembly. The newcomers on the list are Amerindian leader Sydney Allicock of the Guyana Action Party (GAP), businessman Ronald Bulkan, Attorney James Bond, youth leader Christopher Jones, former Police Commissioner Winston Felix and accountant Jaipaul Sharma. Meanwhile, other candidates are Dr Rupert Roopnaraine and Desmond…
Read MoreAPNU to ensure change via Parliament – Granger tells supporters
Hundreds of A Partnership for National Unity participated in an authorised peace march through the city on November 9, which culminated in a four-hour public meeting at Stabroek Square. APNU Chairman David Granger, the feature speaker, once again called for an explanation of the shooting of protesters on December 6. Granger said never in his life has he seen a day like December 6 and charged the gathering that “we have to do something about that”. To a cheering crowd, Granger promised that if an inquiry is not completed and…
Read MoreGECOM maintains integrity of ballot boxes intact
By Ariana Gordon The Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) on Monday said that the ballot boxes of the recent general and regional elections are intact despite two containers storing some of the boxes at Coldingen, East Coast Demerara being breached. On Sunday, the People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C) issued a release to the media alleging that there were three breached containers at Coldingen. That party said it is “flabbergasted” by the ongoing efforts by certain forces to interfere with the integrity of the 2011 elections material and vital evidence should there…
Read MoreAFC urges govt/opposition collaboration in fighting poverty
The Alliance For Change (AFC) is calling for the establishment of a tripartite partnership to fight poverty in Guyana. At the party’s weekly press briefing on Wednesday, its chairman, Khemraj Ramjattan said there is a need for such a partnership to make the country’s economic, political and social transformation evident. “Development for Guyana means economic, political and social transformation in the shortest period of time. This transformation implies not only rapid economic growth, but also political and economic freedoms, eradication of poverty, sustainable and eco-friendly use of natural resources, access…
Read MoreGranger calls for tripartite budget committee
Leader of the A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) David Granger on Monday called for the establishment of a tripartite budget committee. He believes that such a body should be set up as soon as possible to oversee preparation of the national budget and future budgets. According to Granger, such a committee will collaborate with the Bank of Guyana, the Bureau of Statistics and other departments in presenting an accurate and detailed picture of the economy; identifying all sources of funds and examining potential sources of new funds; It will…
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