…Jagdeo tells Carter Center reps
Representatives from the US-based Carter Center met with members of the Opposition People’s Progressive Party (PPP) on Monday where they met with Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo along with Opposition Members of Parliament Juan Edghill and Priya Manickchand.
The Carter Center team included Associate Director, Brett Lacy, and Legal and Electoral Advisor, Anne Marlborough.
The representatives were in Guyana on a fact-finding mission to ascertain the country’s preparedness to host General and Regional Elections following the December 21, 2018 passage of a motion of no-confidence against the coalition Government.
In an interview with Guyana Times International, the Opposition Leader said he briefed the visiting officials on his party’s perspective on the elections.
“We welcomed the meeting and we’re pleased that they’ve shown continued interest in the governance issues in Guyana, particularly free and fair elections. We also used to the opportunity to outline our perspective on how the matters are evolving,” he stated.
According to the Opposition Leader, he made it clear that the A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change coalition seems “hell bent” on violating the Constitution.
“I told them that there is almost no respect for the [High] Court’s decision and that Government is operating in a manner and have made public pronouncements that it is ‘business as usual’. There has been no good faith effort made by this Government to meet the constitutional deadline and that they are pushing us into a constitutional crisis once the March 19 deadline expires,” Jagdeo said he told the Carter Center representatives.
Since the passage of the No-confidence Motion, the Opposition has been reaching out to a number of international organisations to update them on the political situation in Guyana. As such, Jagdeo said this visit by the Carter Center demonstrates that Guyana and the events happening in the country are being watched closely.
“We’ve been having regular meetings with the international community and I know that they are very concerned with the developments in Guyana and I believe that at the appropriate time, stronger views will be expressed,” he stated.
Already international pressure on the country has mounted. Only recently, United Nations (UN) Resident Coordinator, Mikiko Tanaka urged the State to demonstrate its integrity and respect the Constitution as she reminded that building a peaceful and just society requires respect for the rule of law and confidence in national institutions.
“Recent political developments triggered by the no-confidence vote in the National Assembly, are a test for Guyana’s strength and integrity with regards to the effectiveness of the rule of law and governance. The delivery of the decisions by the Chief Justice demonstrates the independence and integrity of the Judiciary in protecting the Constitution and upholding the rule of law. The Honourable Speaker’s earlier validation of the process of the controversial voting at the National Assembly was testimony of the integrity of the Legislative arm of the State. It is hoped that the third arm of the State, the Executive, will demonstrate its integrity and respect for Guyana’s Constitution and the Judiciary that constitute the foundation for the rule of law,” Tanaka noted.
While the length of the Carter Center officials’ visit is unknown, the team has already met with the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM). During that meeting, they engaged Chairman, Justice James Patterson; Chief Elections Officer (CEO) Keith Lowenfield; and the three Opposition Commissioners. The three Government Commissions did not show for the meeting on Monday.
Later that day, the Carter Center representatives also met with Minister of State Joseph Harmon; Social Protection Minister Amna Ally; and Political Advisor, Dr Mark Kirton at the Ministry of the Presidency.
