TALKS of protest actions to push President Donald Ramotar to set a date for general and regional elections have been bandied about, in addition to the political Opposition’s call for the same.

And yesterday General Secretary of the ruling Party, Clement Rohee, disclosed that discussions on the matter, at the level of the party’s Executive Committee – of which Ramotar is a member – are continuing.
“Discussions are continuing on that and other issues as well,” he said at the People’s Progressive Party’s (PPP) weekly press conference, which was held at Freedom House.
He added that, as it relates to a call to protest actions, peaceful protest actions, is a right that Guyanese have.
“Until a date is set the PPP is moving into elections mode,” Rohee said.

NO FALLOUT
At a previous news conference the PPP General Secretary noted that the Party expects no fallout as a result of a date not being named as yet.
“I do not expect a fallout at all. Some people describe it in different ways, but I think the President was tactful in taking that approach,” he had said.
Rohee explained then that President Ramotar’s announcement was a “practical” one, considering the current circumstances.
“Politicians in different countries adopt different tactical and strategic approaches in dealing with local elections. Is there anything wrong with the President and the ruling party adopting certain tactical and strategic approaches with respect to the electoral process in our country? No! So long as it is not unconstitutional,” the PPP General Secretary stressed.
Also, once the President announces a date to go to general and regional elections, constitutionally, the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) has three months within which to deliver; and the Commission is still to complete its Claims and Objections period, following the end of the seventh cycle of continuous registration.
Ramotar, last December, indicated that Guyana will be headed back to the polls, more than a year early.
The Head of State expressed confidence in his party regaining the parliamentary majority it lost in the 2011 general and regional elections by one seat. At the last elections, the combined Opposition gained control of the National Assembly by a one-seat majority in a 33-32 split.
President Ramotar credited his confidence to the Government’s performance in moving the country forward for the benefit of the Guyanese people, and to the experiences of the Guyanese people in the last three years.