– on power of gov’t to call local government elections
GECOM Commissioner, Vincent Alexander on Tuesday commented on the role of government in calling local government elections, contending that such a process must not be held at the discretion of the current administration.
And his comments attracted the ire of stakeholders in various sectors, with one senior government official pointing out that since Guyana became independent such powers have resided in the government of the day.
On condition of anonymity, the official said, “Over 200 years in the British constitutional system we inherited, the Executive, the Government, always retains the discretionary power of when to call local and general elections. Since we became independent, that power has resided with the government of the day.”
The official flayed Alexander for his position, describing them as “irrational utterances.”
“Alexander is obviously making these delusional comments in his quest to become relevant in the political equation of the country once again. He was sidelined into oblivion by the Robert Corbin-led PNC (People’s National Congress). Granger has given him a new lease on life so he has woken up from some slumber or darkness to make comments that are nothing but irrational utterances,” the senior Government official said.
‘Vincent Alexander is obviously making these delusional comments in his quest to become relevant in the political equation of the country once again. He was sidelined into oblivion by the Robert Corbin-led PNC (People’s National Congress). Granger has given him a new lease on life so he has woken up from some slumber or darkness to make comments that are nothing but irrational utterances…’
Last year, on November 6, three local government bills were assented to and include the Fiscal Transfers Bill 2012, Municipal and District Councils (Amendment) Bill and the Local Government Commission Bill.
WITH REASON
The fourth piece of legislation, the Local Government (Amendment) Bill, seeks to vest control of local authorities in the Local Government Commission and was not signed off by President Donald Ramotar. He has since explained repeatedly his reasons for not assenting to the piece of legislation.
The President had pointed out the dangers in reversing his decision to sign Bills, which he said are unconstitutional, as per his legal advice.
He referenced the Esther Pereira Elections Petition case of 1998, where despite an agreement by Members of Parliament a legal case did result.
“How do I know if I sign this, despite my legal advice, that another Esther Pereira will raise their head and impeach me,” Ramotar asked.
The President made it clear that as it stands nothing is preventing the Opposition from challenging his reason for withholding assent and taking the matter to the court.
NOT OPPOSED
Additionally, the Head of State last Saturday made it clear that his administration is not opposed to calling Local Government Elections, but hinted that the commencement order for this process, as well as general elections, could be based on the impacts of the ruling by the Paris-based Financial Action Task Force (FATF).
The Caribbean Financial Action Task Force (CFATF) on May 28 pronounced on Guyana’s failure to address deficiencies in its Anti-Money Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism (AML/CFT) framework. Through a missive to its members, CFATF effectively blacklisted the country on the international scene when it referred Guyana to FATF.
The President, speaking during a recent press conference held at State House, said, “I don’t know what will happen if the impact of this anti-money laundering bill hits home very, very hard on our economy and whether we might have to go back and have another mandate.”
He said that, as Head of State, he cannot close his eyes to the political reality that obtains as the current state of affairs.
Mr. Ramotar said, “I would prefer to go to Local Government Elections, but I cannot shut my eyes to the political reality that exists and make a bland promise that I would go to Local Government Elections tomorrow, as I would have done had we had the majority in the parliament at this point in time and we would not have been in the position that we are in today.”
The National Assembly passed the Local Authorities (Elections) (Amendment) Bill 2013, which states that elections must be held on or before August 1, 2014. The August date was made via an amendment to the Bill, proposed by A Partnership for National Unity (APNU), while the House was in Committee. However, the President has not assented to the Bill.
Local Government Elections were not held in Guyana since 1994. Prior to that, Local Government Elections were last held in 1970. Subsequent to 1994, the elections could not be conducted because of the coincidence with the General and Regional Elections of 1997.
(By Vanessa Narine)
