PPP optimistic ahead of High court ruling on House-to-House registration

Chief Justice (ag) Roxane George-Wiltshire will be delivering her ruling Wednesday on the constitutionality of the Guyana Elections Commission’s (GECOM) ongoing House to House registration exercise.

The People’s Progressive Party (PPP) which is against the exercise, is optimistic that the ruling will be in its favour.

Speaking with the media at the sidelines of a protest action in front of the Ministry of the Presidency, Vlissengen Road, Georgetown on Tuesday, Chief party scrutineer, Zulfikar Mustapha said if the ruling is not in the PPP’s favour, a decision will be made on whether to appeal the case.

“I am very optimistic that the Chief Justice will uphold our constitution and uphold the laws of the country and also at the same time, uphold the order the CCJ has made,” Mustapha said.

The legal challenge was filed by Attorney Christopher Ram on July 22 asking the court to declare that the House to House registration exercise is in violation of the Constitution of Guyana and the spirit of the Consequential orders issued by the CCJ on July 12.

He is represented by Attorney-at-Law Anil Nandlall among others.

Supporters of the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) have been protesting the Ministry of the Presidency and the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) every week.

Along with the discontinuation of the ongoing House to House registration exercise, the party has been calling for the President and Cabinet to resign and for President David Granger to dissolve Parliament and name a date for elections.

On the frontline of Tuesday’s protest action was former Minister of Agriculture, Dr Leslie Ramsammy who migrated following the 2015 General and Regional Elections.

“Elections are long long overdue and so were are out here asking the President to do his duty, his obligation according to the Constitution and call election now,” Dr Ramsammy said.

President Granger and Opposition Leader, Bharrat Jagdeo met just Friday last where they discussed the PPP’s position on the matters relating to national elections.

The engagement is expected to be continuous but the party’s Presidential Candidate, Irfaan Ali maintained that the protest is necessary.

“This call is more than necessary,” he said.

“The meeting between the President and the Leader of the Opposition has nothing to do with the President executing his responsibility,” he added.

Ali said, “it’s another day in Guyana, another day without elections, another day in breach of the Constitution, another day against democracy, another day against the rule of law so as far as we’re concerned, until this Government understand that they must adhere to the Constitution.”

The PPP supporters have vowed to continue protest action until their demands are met.