GENERAL Secretary of the People’s Progressive Party (PPP), Mr. Clement Rohee said, on Tuesday, that the Party is “never never ready” for elections.
“The party is always ready for elections,” he declared at its weekly press conference in Freedom House, at Robb Street, Georgetown.According to him, however, the readiness of the people, especially as it relates to the new procedures in the hosting of Local Government elections, is quintessential.
“All of us would like to have a perfect elections, all of us would like to have an elections that is non-controversial. I think that is the dream of every single Guyanese,” he remarked, referring to the impacts on ensuring the people are ready for the new process.
On the issue of General Elections and the issuance of the related Executive Order, the General Secretary said the Government is not oblivious to calls from the people for snap polls, at the many consultations on the Anti-Money Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism (AML/CFT) Bill.
Rohee emphasised though that the issuance of the Executive Order has to be balanced against the “exigencies” of the current situation.
“There are two types of elections that are now in the air, Local Government and General elections…I would not say society is divided on which one should come first, but there are views out there and we have to take into considerations all the views,” he said.
Political tool
The General Secretary rejected the assertion that the ruling party is using the non-passage of the AML/CFT Bill as a political tool to garner support of the Guyanese people, who will, undeniably, be affected by the resulting regional and international sanctions if the legislation is not enacted.
He called it a “cheap political tool” and added that the party puts its faith in “expensive” political strategies, particularly continuing work on the ground, which he acknowledged is a time consuming process.
Rohee added that the people of Guyana must be included in the decision to go the direction of snap elections.
“I don’t think there is total unanimity on the part of a significant amount of Guyanese on one elections or the other,” he posited.
The General Secretary noted, too, that the decision will also be influenced by “political judgement” on the “mood” of the people, all in an effort to ensure that the party does not lag behind or move ahead of where are the people of the country.
Chairman of the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM), Dr. Steve Surujbally, last Wednesday, declared that it is ready for snap Local Government elections, as well, the latter having an established 180 days work plan, regardless of the date set.
By Vanessa Narine