Rohee: Everyone is waiting to see what will play out
–The PPP is on high alert

CONTRARY to what many observers believe, the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) said it stands ready for any elections, be it Local Government or General and Regional, and that it is waiting on the President to make such a call. 

Party General Secretary, Clement Rohee said so yesterday while speaking in the context of the ultimatum issued by Leader of the Opposition, David Granger to President Donald Ramotar to call Local Government Elections, or otherwise deal with the repercussions.
Rohee was speaking at the Party’s weekly press conference at its headquarters, on Robb Street, Georgetown.
Granger last week penned a letter to the President saying that failing an announcement to call the elections by September 15 (yesterday) will result in the Opposition taking lawful action to mobilise national and international support in defence of local democracy, the Constitution, and the rights of the Guyanese people.
“We remind you that the Local Authorities (Elections) (Amendment) Bill, at its second reading on 2014.02.10, was debated and passed ‘As amended,’ directing that elections be held on or before 1st August 2014,” Granger said in the letter.
Commenting on the issue yesterday, Rohee observed that everyone is waiting to see the manifestations of the deadline; how it will play out, and that the PPP is on the alert for any “untoward” results.
Rohee said there seems to be confusion in the political opposition, as the A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) is pressing for Local Government Elections, while the Alliance For Change (AFC) is looking for General and Regional Elections. “So, that is another issue that they have to sort out among themselves. Contrary to what some observers feel, the PPP is ready for any elections; we have always been. In due course, the President will make a determination. That’s the president’s call.”
A few days ago, Head of the Presidential Secretariat, Dr. Roger Luncheon said Granger’s letter was being viewed by Cabinet as a political strategy, and not necessarily as an ultimatum.
“You will soon be hearing of an effort; an attempt by the governing party; definitely by the Administration, to have this kind of engagement with Mr. Granger, to bring clarity to what he actually, in his very brief letter, is seeking to have done, and to establish what he is really getting at when this proposal, what he called for, his demands, surfaced,” Luncheon said at his weekly post-Cabinet press briefing.
“What does the Leader of the Opposition really want? Because we know that he knows what we know; everybody knows that. So he can’t call for the impossible. The Messiah ain’t coming tomorrow, so why would he ask President Ramotar to do the impossible? There is a reason, and we need to inquire what that reason or reasons are,” Luncheon said.

(By Telesha Ramnarine)