THE Guyana Trades Union Congress (GTUC) is calling on the government and opposition to work out a solution regarding the hosting of elections, and the flow of day-to-day governance for the benefit of citizens.

The request comes as Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo, at his most recent press conference, stated that the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) intends to protest against the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM), should it project an election date beyond March 21, 2019.

In a press statement on Sunday, the GTUC said that while it respects the opposition’s right to protest, the constitution also allows an extension of this period, while its stipulations on governance should not be interpreted in parts.

“GTUC respects the constitutional right to protest. At the same time, the opposition and government should carry the duty and responsibility to ensure we proceed through this period in a constructive, not destructive manner. Both sides must continue talking and working together because governance has not stopped,” the statement cautioned.

Article 106(7) speaks to the holding of an election “within three months….or such longer period” which requires “not less than two-thirds of the votes of all the elected members of the National Assembly [to] determine,…”

On January 31, 2019, acting Chief Justice (CJ) Roxane George-Wiltshire had ruled that the passage of the no-confidence motion was successful, and therefore, General and Regional Elections are to be held within the 90-day timeframe.

However, prior to her ruling and even now, GECOM commissioners remain at odds regarding the preparedness of GECOM for an election within the timeframe.

The GTUC, without dictating the specifics, called on the government and opposition to ensure that whichever conclusion is arrived at,it is intended to redound to the people’s benefit.

Furthermore, the CJ’s ruling had upheld Article 106(6) which states that Cabinet, including the President, shall resign if the Government is defeated…” and Article 106(7) which allows for Government to continue functioning in that “…notwithstanding its defeat, the Government shall remain in office….”

With this in mind, the release said: “GTUC calls on society not to examine Article 106(6) in isolation of 106(7) but to be guided by the acting CJ’s ruling, which upheld both, for the crucial element of both must not be ignored. To pay heed to one and ignore the other is to give partial justice to the CJ’s ruling, the workers and people of Guyana.”

Although it was noted, that there are varying interpretations of the “functions” the government must conduct, the GTUC says that the country’s leaders must not see the disagreement as a roadblock, but as an opportunity to come to a solution.

“In the absence of common understanding, it behooves the two sides to sit and use this opportunity presented to our nation to define the options that would guide Guyana on the way forward, now and in the future,” the statement said.

“The opposition and government must return to the table to work out their differences and modalities for treating not only with the extant article, but also day-to-day governance. GTUC holds both sides equally responsible to get this right, and not seek to benefit from what might be perceived as dilatory or aggressive tactics.”

The union also acknowledged that the ongoing “confidence case” is the first of its kind the country has experienced, whereby there is local precedence for guidance.

This, however, did not deter them from asserting that the matter at hand is not about the interest of respective political parties, but about the working-class people who deserve justice in every aspect of Guyana’s governance.