THE three major political parties have yet to officially launch their campaigns and yet to declare their leadership slates in their entirety, even though their work on the ground continues and amidst the resurgence of some political names, such as the United Republican Party (URP), and new contemplations by others on entering the election race.

And so, in the meantime, the lives of Guyanese are marked by a changing dynamic, as await the May 11 General and Regional Elections – the day they exercise their right, fulfil a civic duty and take advantage of an opportunity.
During the last week, there have been declarations, questions, assurances, charges being given and revelations, as well as progress updates.
One of the key declarations has come from Chairman of the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM), Dr. Steve Surujbally, who made it clear that access to funding for the hosting of the elections is not a problem.
“The monies are available,” he assured political parties, in a recent interview with the Guyana Chronicle.
A move to elections, more than a year earlier than due, will cost a “pretty penny.” The cost is as much as $1.6B, which is part of the $3.3B allocated to GECOM in the 2014 Budget, in the event the Commission had to prepare for the holding of elections.
MONEY QUESTIONS ANSWERED
Another major issue that made headlines was that of Government spending.
The Alliance For Change (AFC) expressed concerns about Guyana’s international reserves with a statement that was the subject of a scathing reply from the Ministry of Finance.
The ministry recognised the comments as indicative of a “worrying lack of basic knowledge of macroeconomic accounts, of the framework within which external reserves are generated and managed” and of recent developments in the global and domestic economies.
The political challenges over other contentions related to Government spending, under a prorogued Parliament, were also answered by Public Works Minister, Robeson Benn, with an emphatic one-liner.
The minister, under whose purview investments into several major infrastructural undertakings were made, said: “I am prepared to go to jail for any reason related to Guyana’s proper development, for any reason.”
On the question of spending until the dissolution of Parliament, Attorney General, Anil Nandlall, had, in a prior interview, underscored the legal provisions which guard spending and ensure these are done without “abuse,” as is being alleged.
With the May 11 elections announcement, Parliament is expected to be dissolved before that. As such, spending is governed by Article 220 (3) of the Constitution.
Once Parliament is dissolved, the relative proclamation will activate the provisions of Article 220 paragraph 3, which states that if Parliament is dissolved before any action is taken to authorise monies from public funds, “The minister responsible for finance may authorise the withdrawal of such sums from the Consolidated Fund.”
The minister must, however, prove that monies taken from the Consolidated Fund are used for the purpose “of meeting expenditure on the public services.”
The Consolidated Fund in normal circumstances could be accessed only by support from the National Assembly.
The procedure follows that after the new Parliament meets, a statement must be presented to the National Assembly by the Finance Minister or any other minister who was identified by the President. “When the statement has been approved by the Assembly, that expenditure shall be included, under the appropriate heads, in the next Appropriation Bill,” the legislation also reads.
Until Parliament is dissolved, it currently still stands under prorogation – following the November 10 proclamation by President Ramotar.
During this period, there are also laws that govern Government spending.
According to the Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs, Anil Nandlall, a combination of Article 219 of the Constitution and the Fiscal Management and Accountability Act, provides that in any financial year the Government is empowered to spend one- twelfth of the Budget of the preceding year in continuing to provide the normal services of the Government of Guyana, until an Appropriation Act is passed.
“This position obtains, whether Parliament is in session or not, or whether there will be Elections or no Elections. Indeed, if Parliament were in session, the National Assembly could not have prevented this constitutional and legal formula in relation to spending during this period (before the new Budget is passed) from being applied,” Nandlall said.
ASSURANCES
In addition to the assurances that Government spending is guarded, there have been other assurances that stirred the interest of the Guyanese public.
Former President, Dr. Bharrat Jagdeo has no interest in pursuing a third term and even if this were the case, revising the constitutional provisions that limit presidential term limits, will require a consensual approach, according to Head of the Presidential Secretariat (HPS), Dr. Roger Luncheon at his last press conference.
The assurance came after the presidential two-term limit was challenged by the filing of a Constitutional Motion in the High Court.
The challenge was filed in the name of Cedric Richardson, a 56-year-old West Ruimveldt, Georgetown, resident, by Attorney-at-Law, Emily Dodson, a People’s National Congress (PNC) sympathiser. Dodson also represented former treason accused, Mark Benschop, during his incarceration. Attorneys-at-law, Shaun Allicock and Oneidge Waldron Allicock, also signed onto the writ.
The contentious Constitutional provision, Article 90 (2) states that: “A person elected as President after 2000 is eligible for re-election only once.”
Richardson contends that the provision of the constitution, which imposes a term limit on the presidency, is unconstitutional; and that the procedure and process by which that provision was placed in the constitution is unlawful.
Speaker of the National Assembly, Raphael Trotman, and Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs, Anil Nandlall, have been named as respondents in the matter, but no date has been set as yet for a hearing of the matter in the High Court.
CHARGES GIVEN
In other happenings, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, President Donald Ramotar, has placed the rank and file of the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) on high alert, in anticipation of the upcoming polls.
President Ramotar delivered the charge to top brass of the Guyana Defence Force, as they congregated at the Officers’ Complex at Base Camp Ayanganna for their Annual Conference.
Emphasising the importance of, and challenges accompanying an election, the President in his address to the ranks surmised that as “we approach elections, my fervent hope is that the climate is one of peace [and where] good sense will prevail, even as contesting political parties and their supporters, as is their democratic right, vigorously conduct their campaigns.”
Speaking also in his capacity as Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, the President was stern in his edict and warned that in such an election climate, “forces of reaction and fragmentation must not be allowed to fester in our society.”
He added, “I as Commander-in-Chief expect that your leadership will be exemplary and your image as a national army will be unsullied…you have sworn an oath to carry out your duties without fear or favour, affection or ill will and in the execution of those duties, honour and uphold the Constitution of the Republic of Guyana, I expect no less of the officers and ranks of the GDF.”
COALITION DECISION
With certainty on where the Armed Forces must stand, as well as assurances on others, questions still plague some of the major developments in the lead- up to the polls, particularly the pre-election alliance between A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) – a coalition itself – and the AFC.
The touted alliance between the two parliamentary political Opposition parties may yet turn out to be a marriage of convenience for one more than the other, according to Presidential Adviser on Governance and political veteran, Gail Teixeira.
Giving an analysis of the current talks which are said to be underway between the two parties, she noted that remains to be seen what the reported discussions between the two parties will actually realise.
Former prime minister in the People’s National Congress Government and serving Mayor of Georgetown, Hamilton Green, is of the opinion that the AFC is not prepared for a coalition or an alliance of any kind.
He also claimed that he has put a proposal to the AFC that may be more workable than their proposal being negotiated with the APNU.
Speaking on the weekend programme Hard Talk, hosted by Christopher Chapwanya, Green said: “I don’t know that the AFC leadership is quite ready to make that leap. I have talked to some of them and I have proposed to them in writing another modus which I wouldn’t want to reveal at this time and it may be that the proposal I made at the end of the day will have to be used.”
There are indications that some finality, in terms of a decision in the matter, is expected to be sooner rather than later.
REVELATIONS
Aside from questions on the way forward in some quarters, there has been an additional consideration, this time in the form of a revelation that came from the APNU camp.
Having rejoined the party in the face of General and Regional elections slated for this year, returning APNU member, Jaipaul Sharma, at APNU’s weekly press conference has admitted to his party’s “revenge” tactic used in the life of the 10th Parliament against the Government.
When questioned by the media on whether he was happy with the achievement of the legislative arm in the 10th Parliament, the Justice For All Party (JFAP) executive member, which has now rejoined the coalition, responded in the negative, stressing that “No one is happy, including myself.”
He added, “We don’t want a repeat; maybe the APNU in office faced with a situation of being a minority in the National Assembly, but hold the executive.”
Admitting that the Opposition had played destructive politics in the Parliament, the now APNU member continued: “And then the PPP gonna dish out the same that probably the joint Opposition gave them, the revenge thing.” He then subtly ended his statement by saying, “It will not benefit the people.”
COUNTDOWN CONTINUES
The repercussions of Sharma’s comments are left to be seen; yet another event to countdown in the minds of many, as Parliament is expected to be dissolved by tomorrow (Monday, February 9).
Once the proclamation of dissolution is issued, preparations for the next Parliament – the 11th Parliament – will commence.
The new 65 members, relative to representation in the House, will be decided on the basis of the outcome of the upcoming General and Regional elections and who those individuals are will be based on the names submitted, via a Candidates List submitted on Nomination Day, by the contesting political parties.
The 10th Parliament was convened on January 12, 2012.
Politicos have commented that the campaigns for the three major political parties are likely to commence after the dissolution of Parliament.
PROGRESS REPORTS
Until then, life in Guyana goes on as evidenced by the recent activities reported on in the media, including: Thursday’s fifth annual engineering conference; the announced opening of what is positioned to be Guyana’s first Five-Star, internationally branded hotel, the Georgetown Marriott; the Ministry of Tourism Industry and Commerce’s first ever Grant Award and Partnership ceremony; the fact that Guyana has accepted 75 of the 143 recommendations made at the United Nations (UN) Universal Periodic Review meeting held in Geneva, Switzerland, on January 27; and the welcoming news that 264 people have benefited from the most recent houselot distribution process for the DeWillem/Zeeburg area on the West Coast of Demerara.
Not to mention, with the Mashramani celebrations around the corner, Roger Hinds of Region 3 has won the National Chutney Competition which was staged at the Anna Regina Community Centre ground on the Essequibo Coast with his song, “Ah looking for a larki.” He first took the chutney crown in the 2013 competition, and reclaimed it this year with a dynamic and entertaining performance that captivated the audience and the eight judges.
And so Guyanese have 93 days until the return to the polls, with the knowledge that all considered, the right to vote is the most significant representation of a citizen’s participation in the governance of their country.