WITH tension soaring between the David Granger Administration and the Opposition People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) as that party is yet to submit its list of Members for the 11th Parliament, outgoing Assistant Secretary-General of the Organisation of American States, Ambassador Albert Ramdin has pledged the full support of the OAS to mediate between the two parties, but only if invited to do so.Ambassador Ramdin, a Surinamese national who has served in his capacity since 2005, told reporters yesterday at the Pegasus Hotel in Georgetown that in the spirit of inclusive governance and participatory democracy, “a democracy needs all voices to be heard.”
Following the 2015 General and Regional Elections, the PPP/C lost the reins of power after 23 years to the A Partnership for National Unity+ Alliance For Change (APNU+AFC) coalition. The coalition has since been allotted 33 of the 65 seats in the National Assembly, with the PPP/C mustering up the remaining 32.
While the 11th Parliament is slated to begin next Wednesday, the Opposition PPP/C has not yet submitted its list of 32 sitting members, though the proceedings on that day are expected to go on even if that list is not provided.
Ambassador Ramdin, since visiting Guyana, has met with both the Government and the Opposition, but he noted that the latter has not requested the intervention of the OAS at this point.
“I have not been invited to do so, but I can tell you in transparency of the OAS that we spoke with government officials as well as the PPP,” Ramdin said, adding that “the OAS is not here for one party or the other … [but] for the country.”
Since the announcement of the results, the PPP/C has alleged that the polls were rigged, although all the observer missions have stood by their assessment that the elections were free and fair.
“If a political party does not agree with the outcome, then there are ways to deal with that within the electoral framework,” Ramdin asserted yesterday, adding:
“Close elections, where there is marginal difference between those who win and those who lose, always creates problems.”
However, he has proposed that this is the time to move on with the business of the country, once the legitimate institutions have pronounced on the results, and “once the time-frame for objections and so on have taken place.”
The OAS Assistant Secretary-General called for the recognition on all sides of their role in the peace, prosperity and security of Guyana. “These groups have a responsibility and the inclusive way of governance is the best way forward to create the best opportunities for the peoples in a country… So I hope that we can see prosperity in the future of Guyana continuing.”
“I am not saying that the party that is not in agreement with the outcome cannot continue with clarifying the position, and, if there is evidence, presenting them whenever they want. But in the meantime, the country has to move on,” Ramdin said, adding: “It is up to the PPP now to demonstrate the evidence where things went wrong.”
The OAS is a multilateral organisation of 33 member countries from North, Central, South America, and the Caribbean. Guyana became a member of the body in 1991.
The OAS Electoral Observer Missions (EOM) formed part of the international observer teams for Guyana’s May 11 elections. While a number of suggestions were offered by the team headed by Belizean Senator Lisa Shoman in regard to strengthening the electoral process, the official report from that mission is yet to be released.
By Derwayne Wills