…Jagdeo slams Govt over ‘fraudulent behavior’
Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo, on Thursday, said that he would not be accepting an invitation to meet with President David Granger to discuss the current political situation unless he abides by the provisions of the Constitution and call a date for General and Regional Elections constitutionally due by March 19.
Speaking at a Press Conference at his office, Jagdeo related that he would no longer be writing the President regarding additional agenda items he wished to discuss at the meeting as there is no need to do so. “There is no merit to meet on the two issues that he has asked me to meet on because they are provided for in Constitution”.
“Unless there is a time for election on the agenda, there will be no meeting,” the Opposition Leader said.
“I am not going to be showing up for a PR opportunity with the President while they act as if everything is normal”, Jagdeo added.
Jagdeo also lashed out at the APNU/AFC Government for engaging in what he referred to as “fraudulent behaviour”, after it altered the letter instructing the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) to prepare for national elections.
On February 25, President David Granger dispatched a letter to GECOM Chairman, Justice (rtd) James Patterson, instructing that the Commission begin preparing for elections.
The letter reads: “The Government of Guyana is committed to doing everything possible to ensure that the commission is provided with the financial resources and has sufficient time to conduct credible elections. I urge the Commission, therefore, to commence preparations for the conduct of GRE.”
It added, “The Government of Guyana will initiate measures to provide funds required and to seek the approval of the National Assembly to ensure that an agreement can be reached given both the Constitutional requirements and GECOM’s capability.”
However, an altered letter released by the Ministry of the Presidency to the public, contradicts what was stated in the original correspondence.
The altered letter reads: “I have noted also, GECOM as a constitutional agency would require a new appropriation of funds approved by the National Assembly for the conduct of General and Regional Elections. I now write you in that context for us to initiate consultations on the readiness of GECOM for the conduct of General and Regional Elections in 2019.”
The letter makes no mention of the Head-of-State’s instruction to begin preparing for the elections, which are constitutionally due by March 19, 2019 – following the passage of the no confidence motion which saw the toppling of the Coalition Government on December 21, 2018.
“This is fraudulent behaviour. Obviously after the first letter went off, there was some internal problem…and they then changed the letter and put this letter up,” the Opposition Leader suggested.
“I don’t think we can even move forward as a country if you have a government operating fraudulently. This is fraudulent on the part of the Granger Administration,” Jagdeo added.
“He has to say why he issued two letters to the Chairman of GECOM which contradicts each other,” said Jagdeo as he repeatedly accused the Guyanese leader of engaging in “fraudulent behaviour”. He said the election commissioners received one letter.
The Opposition Leader suggested that the President came under internal political pressure after the first letter had been dispatched and he sent a second letter. “If there are two letters, which is the one that we will use?” he asked.
The Opposition has accused the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) and the Government of deliberately trying to delay the holding of the General and Regional Elections constitutionally due by March.
Although the Opposition has been calling for elections within the constitutional time frame, the Government claimed that it was up to GECOM’s readiness to host same.
The PPP had said that the situation at GECOM would certainly guarantee that Guyana is pushed towards a constitutional crisis.
It said that GECOM in its refusal to hold elections demonstrated its illogical willingness to toe the Government’s line. In so doing, it has made the Constitution of Guyana subservient to the will of the Commission and this should not be the case.
GECOM’s mandate, as stipulated by the Constitution, clearly states in Article 162 (1) of the Constitution that: “The Elections Commission shall have such functions connected with or relating to the registration of electors or the conduct of elections as are conferred upon it by or under this Constitution or, subject thereto, any Act of Parliament.”
Jagdeo had said: “GECOM has a moral and ethical responsibility to get elections done before March 19. What is before the Commission now is to come up with actions to ensure this. So, I don’t know where this thing about July is coming in. There is only one way that date can be extended. And Opposition and Government have to agree by a two-thirds majority.”
GECOM had given July as a timeline for the hosting of elections, but at the same time, it stated that the present voters’ list would expire on April 30.
