MINISTER Rohee needs to do better than say that the party supports local government elections, while stating that their appointees do not think that GECOM is ready to hold elections in August. He asks whether the Opposition has asked GECOM if they can hold an election in August. It would have been much more productive if the Local Government Minister were to hold a meeting with GECOM and all parties and interested stakeholders, to get their official responses on when an election can be held successfully, thereby giving all a chance to ask questions and make suggestions, while agreeing on the best possible date.
Any democratic organisation should welcome constructive comments. Government officials have a tendency to make things harder for themselves than necessary. Truth and reality loses out to perception if the truth is not spoken in the best manner for anyone to understand.
Let GECOM itself state officially and publicly when it can hold an election. The only excuse not to set an election date is whether GECOM can do it or not.
Surely, after all this time, every party should be ready for an election in at least four months time. Call for any meeting by political parties should not delay the earliest date doable by GECOM. Otherwise, even though it is not true, the perception is that government is stalling.
N. AUGUSTUS