President maintains readiness for ‘any’ election
President Donald Ramotar, at a news conference yesterday, stressed his Government’s readiness for either local government or general elections
President Donald Ramotar, at a news conference yesterday, stressed his Government’s readiness for either local government or general elections

PRESIDENT Donald Ramotar has reiterated his party’s state of readiness in the event of “any” elections, be it local government or general elections.

“We have said that we are ready and we have to be ready. We have to be ready because we have a one-seat minority in the National Assembly.” “The joint Opposition has one seat more than us; therefore it means that at any time they can pass a no-confidence motion. From that point of view, we have to always be ready for any elections,” he said, at a press conference held at State House yesterday.
According to him, while the readiness of the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) is the subject of a “raging debate” his position on the matter is that if the Commission is ready, there is no need for six months to facilitate a work plan, which is intended to ensure GECOM’s is ready for the election process.
“If you need six months, how prepared are you,” the President questioned.
When asked about the political gridlock, characterised by no-confidence motions and referrals to privileges committees, and his intentions to move to snap elections, Mr. Ramotar made it clear that any move by his administration will take into consideration the desires of the Guyanese people.
“If we have to do that (call snap elections) we will do that if it is needed to be done, but also elections are an expensive thing. So, let’s save the Guyanese people some money and continue as long as we can (without moving rashly),” he said.
The Head of State disclosed too that the issue of his running as the ruling party’s presidential candidate, if there is a move towards snap elections, has not come up. “I haven’t seen any reason why not,” he however, said.
On the issue of the continuing delays with the hosting of local government elections, Mr. Ramotar maintained that there are several factors to be taken into consideration in this regard.
“Up to 2010 it was the PNC (People’s Nation Congress) that asked to postpone the local government elections…as it stands now, it is not a question of unwillingness,” he posited, adding that the extenuating circumstances must be acknowledged.
The President stated his hope for the current challenges to be overcome soon to facilitate the much-delayed hosting of local government elections.
Relative to the assertion of the reduction of the party’s support base, he said, “The PPP (People’s Progressive Party) has constantly worked with every section of the Guyanese people…we would like ideally to have 100 per cent support, but this is a great ideal and we continue to work to convince the majority of Guyanese that our policies are the best for Guyana.”
Mr. Ramotar reiterated his party’s readiness for the hosting of either local government or general elections and stressed that consecutive PPP led administrations have a proven track record.

(By Vanessa Narine)

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