Guyana’s Opposition engaging int’l community over political situation

The People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) is expected to engage the international community following last month’s passage of the no-confidence vote and the Party’s expectations on the way forward.
This is according to Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo, who told reporters last week that in addition to a recent meeting he had with the diplomats from the ABC countries – United States of America (USA); United Kingdom (UK), and Canada as well as the European Union (EU) – the Party has also reached out to a number of international organisations.
“We are setting up these meetings, but the letters … [were sent] to several of these organisations, almost all the international groups, outlining the situation in Guyana. We have gotten a couple of calls from the technical staff to the heads of these organisations, but I don’t want to reveal who they are, because they are doing research and they wanted to clarify a few things from us. So, clearly people know about it already and there is great interest in it internationally,” the Opposition Leader stated.
Just over a week ago, Jagdeo met with the Western diplomats at his Church Street, Queenstown office and during the one-hour meeting, he indicated to the diplomats that if elections were not held within the timeframe stipulated by the Constitution, the Government would be considered an illegitimate and unconstitutional one.
“We in the parliamentary Opposition will treat the Government if elections are not held by that date as illegitimate and that no act that they engage in internationally or locally would be recognised. This will have major implications for Guyana, for investors and for all concerned. I have also urged the diplomatic community to be involved in the process of free and fair elections,” Jagdeo had stated following the meeting.
According to the Opposition Leader, one of the things the Party wants is observer teams from several international organisations and the customary countries to ensure the vote is free from fraud.
“I expressed the desire of the People’s Progressive Party to see a massive observer group from all the agencies – Caricom (Caribbean Community); the European Union; OAS (Organisation of American States); UNASUR (Union of South American Nations); Carter Centre, Commonwealth, etc. Then, I also made it clear to them that we are very concerned about the shenanigans that seem to be brewing behind this Government’s statement that they are exploring legal and other options,” the former President added.
Furthermore, Jagdeo had slammed the Government for breaking the trust and goodwill he had hoped would be built up ahead of his meeting with the President, which has been finally set for this Wednesday. In fact, he noted that instead of using the time to calm the country following the vote, Government is causing more tension by challenging the no-confidence resolution.
After losing its bid to get the Speaker of the National Assembly to reverse his decision on the passage of the no-confidence resolution last week, an application was filed by a private citizen, Compton Reid, in the High Court on Friday to have the A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC) Government remain in office “until the hearing and determination” of the case. A move which the PPP has since condemned, calling it frivolous while adding that it was a deliberate ploy aimed at “unlawfully and unconstitutionally” keeping the current Administration in office.
On December 21, 2018, the no-confidence motion brought by the parliamentary Opposition – the PPP/C – against the Government succeeded when former AFC Member of Parliament Charrandas Persaud broke ranks and made a conscience vote in favour of the motion.
With the Government’s defeat, the next steps are spelt out in the Constitution of Guyana. Article 106 (6) of the Constitution states: “The Cabinet including the President shall resign if the Government is defeated by the vote of a majority of all the elected members of the National Assembly on a vote of confidence.”
Meanwhile, clause 7 goes on to state that “Notwithstanding its defeat, the Government shall remain in office and shall hold an election within three months, or such longer period, as the National Assembly shall by resolution supported by not less than two-thirds of the votes of all the elected members of the National Assembly determine, and shall resign after the President takes the oath of office following the election.”