President says preparations for elections will continue

President David Granger says that the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) will continue its preparations for general and regional elections notwithstanding what is happening at the judicial level.

He told reporters Wednesday morning that he will continue to engage GECOM to ensure their requests for holding elections are fulfilled, which includes approving more funds in the National Assembly.

“I’ve been very happy with the level of cooperation I’ve been getting from the [GECOM] Chairman and as far as possible we are going to satisfy those needs.

“We’re going to go back to the Parliament…and make requests to ensure GECOM has everything it needs.

“We are committed to having clean elections, credible election in this country.

“Whatever happens at any level of the judicial system, Guyana is going to be prepared,” President Granger said.

GECOM had indicated that it can only hold elections in late November after a house to house registration and that it needs $3.5B.

Two of three Court of Appeal Judges last Friday ruled that 34 votes and not 33 in the 65-seat National Assembly are required as an absolute majority for the passage of a No Confidence Motion.

This effectively means that the Government can continue in office and there is no need to call general and regional elections unless the country’s final appellate court – the Caribbean Court of Justice -rejects the ruling.

The Opposition has already moved to the CCJ, seeking to overturn the ruling and made it clear that it will not attend any sitting of the National Assembly until the CCJ rules.

Meanwhile, Government Chief Whip Amna Ally said discussions are underway to have the next sitting of the National Assembly in April.

“At the moment we are looking at the Order Paper, the items that are outstanding and those that that will be necessary for us to put on the order paper,” Ally told News Room Wednesday.

Ally is also not too fazed with the planned Opposition boycott of the house.

“Throughout the lifetime of the Opposition, their attitude is to boycott. They don’t care whether it is for good or for bad.

“This boycott that they are planning to have is not going to be any surprise to the Government.

“It is just another thing.”