CCJ ruling clear as daylight; elections must be held in 3 months – Jagdeo

Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo Friday afternoon rejoiced over the declaration by the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) that the David Granger administration has been stripped of full authority and has been placed in caretaker mode for the sole purpose of holding general elections.

“If they drag it out a little longer,” Jagdeo said it doesn’t change the fact that the government has been declared an interim administration; this, he said, has far-reaching consequences, including the way the international community will engage with the government.

“When you’re caretaker, that’s the end of the day,” Jagdeo declared.

According to Jagdeo, the ruling was clear as daylight and he emphasised that the administration must act with “integrity” in upholding it.

He said that while the CCJ did not set a timeline, it did declare that the provisions in the constitution are clear and must be followed. The provision is for elections in three months when a government falls on a No-Confidence motion.

The Court said elections should have been held by March 21, but the court challenge put the consequences on pause until the ruling on June 18. Given that declaration, elections are due on September 18 unless the National Assembly extends the deadline.

But Jagdeo said the PPP will not go back to the National Assembly.

“We are not going to Parliament…that’s out of the question,” Jagdeo declared. He suggested the Opposition will not budge on the issue because the government has acted in bad faith since the passage of the motion since it first accepted and then backtracked and filed the legal challenge.

Given the CCJ urging for Jagdeo and President Granger act to urgently appoint a new chairman of the Guyana Elections Commission.

Talks between the representatives of Jagdeo and Granger broke down Thursday and Jagdeo said he will seek clarification on the way forward.