THE national budget has to be presented in the National Assembly in March and approved by the House before the end of April 2015, limiting the timeframe for dialogue among local political parties to break the current political gridlock, as intended by President Donald Ramotar when he prorogued Parliament last Monday.
Commenting on the timeframe for talks, General Secretary of the ruling People’s Progressive Party (PPP), Clement Rohee, said “any number can play” out in the coming weeks.
“We have to present a budget by the end of March so you have to count back from there in terms of determining a reasonable timeframe; between now and then any number can play,” he told reporters yesterday at the PPP’s weekly press briefing at Freedom House, Robb Street.
He acknowledged, however, that a number of factors must be considered in moving forward, including the readiness of the Guyana Elections Commission.
“The validity of the list has to be taken into consideration, (as well as) GECOM’s agenda and need for GECOM to put their house in order…all these are factors to be taken into consideration,” Rohee said.
‘WE ARE READY NOW’
Asked if the party was ready for elections, the PPP General Secretary was emphatic in responding in the affirmative.
“If elections are called tomorrow we are in the fray…we are ready now, we are prepared to run with any timeframe….this party is ready for elections at any point in time…this is not an electioneering party, the PPP is always on the ground…let the chips fall where they may,” Rohee declared.
Additionally, the two Opposition parties, A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) and the Alliance For Change (AFC), have made it clear that they will not engage in talks.
Meanwhile, President Donald Ramotar has been clear in stating that the move to prorogation was intended to pave the way for greater dialogue among political parties, while keeping the 10th Parliament alive.
The prorogation, constitutionally provided for in Section 70 (1) in the Laws of Guyana, can last up to a maximum of six months.
However, Mr. Ramotar has maintained that if efforts at dialogue prove futile, there will be a move to early general elections.
“My motivation to get some kind of agreement moving forward…what I have done in a way is to take everyone off the hook, wipe the slate clean and have a possibility of going forward again…if we can’t then election is it,” the President said at a news conference last Friday. (Vanessa Narine)
