HEADS of the Guyana Public Service Union (GPSU) and the Guyana Agricultural and General Workers Union (GAWU), yesterday welcomed President Donald Ramotar’s announcement of May 11 as polling day.

GPSU President Patrick Yarde told the Guyana Chronicle yesterday that this step brings a resolution to the current political impasse. “It is a good move,” he said.
Yarde contends that the President’s call for peace and calm during the elections period is a sincere expression and commended the President for this.
“Unnecessary contentions should be avoided and good sense and respect for the law should prevail, so that during this period there can be more understanding and unity among the people of Guyana,” said Yarde.

The President of the GPSU added that the energies of persons across Guyana should be used to develop a better and richer Guyana as we enter into the period of elections.
Meanwhile, GAWU President, Komal Chand, stated that the decision comes in a timely manner, as promised by the President in his address to the nation early last December.
Chand stated that the prorogation of Parliament led to the Government not being able to have certain measures addressed and also frustrated a lot of development plans.

‘It is a good move; unnecessary contentions should be avoided and good sense and respect for the law should prevail, so that during this period, there can be more understanding and unity among the people of Guyan’ –GPSU’s Patrick Yarde

However, he underscored the fact that the decision to prorogue Parliament was not a bad one, considering that it gave the political parties a chance to engage in dialogue.
Nevertheless, Chand stated that he hopes the level of campaigning of the political parties are not lowered “as we prep for what is hoped to be a calm, non-violent and peaceful election so that persons can go back to assisting in the development of a stronger and better Guyana.”
He stated that GAWU is relying on the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) to overlook and ensure that this election will be a fair and transparent one, as the last few elections have been.
The last general and regional elections were held in November 2011.