Analysis by Rickey Singh

FINALLY, but to the surprise of no one familiar with constitution-based  parliamentary democracy in Guyana, the 15-member Caribbean Community on Friday unequivocally declared “satisfaction” with the arrangements made  by the Government for last November’s prorogation of this nation’s Parliament.The declaration by the Community Council—second highest forum of the Georgetown-based Secretariat, after the Heads of Government—also underscored “the need for the respect of diplomatic proprieties and for adherence in the domestic affairs of member states…”
This position by CARICOM also reflect a denial by the London-based Commonwealth Secretariat, as communicated with Guyana’s Foreign Minister Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett, that contrary to a claim by outgoing British High Commissioner Andrew Ayre, this country could face “sanctions” by the Commonwealth Ministerial Action Group (CMAG) over the prorogation and without a fixed date for new general elections.
The Foreign Minister had disclosed in an earlier statement her consternation over Mr. Ayre’s claim about CMAG’s involvement in likely sanctions against Guyana, explaining that she is a member on that Common wealth body and there was absolutely no truth to any such development.
Separately, the General Secretary of the governing People’s Progressive Party, Clement Rohee, who is also Minister of Home Affairs, had also strongly criticised the British envoy for unnecessarily engaging in old colonial-style interference in the domestic affairs of Guyana.

Diplomats’ tango
The British Government has so far maintained its public silence on the High Commissioner Ayre’s open political entanglement with the administration of President Donald Ramotar, while the diplomat is finalising his departure arrangements.  Significantly Ayre’s successor, James Gregory Quinn, was announced in November last year.

He and former USA Ambassador to Guyana, Brent Hardt, were together controversially involved in public campaigning associated also with parliamentary opposition parties for the holding of overdue local government elections ahead of new national elections.

Currently, the independent Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) is finalising arrangements for the conduct of new national and local government elections, the date for which is expected to be announced quite soon.
New elections are not constitutionally due before November 2016. At the November 2011 polls, the incumbent PPP retained the Executive Presidency and had to contend with the challenges of governing –for the first time ever—with a minority of one in the 65-member National Assembly.