Dear Editor,
The Guyana Elections commission on Friday submitted a proposal that elections be held in March 2020. I do not wish to weigh in on this issue of national importance of the December 21st no confidence motion but I do believe the law is the law and no matter what is the situation at present, the constitution must be upheld.
The Government was defeated by a vote of no confidence sponsored by the parliamentary opposition and according to the constitution, Article 106(6 and 7) requires the resignation of the Cabinet including the president. The article goes on to state that, among other things, that notwithstanding its defeat, the Government shall remain in office and that an election shall be held within three months, or such longer period as the national assembly shall by resolution supported by not less than two thirds of the votes of all the elected members of the national assembly determine.
What is so difficult about what the constitution states? The Caribbean Court of Justice which is Guyana’s Final Appellate Court upheld the no confidence motion in which the President Justice Adrian Sanders when he read the ruling states that there is no need for the court to gloss over the provisions of Article 106 (6 and 7) but it is, in fact, the responsibility of the constitutional actors to be faithful to the rule of law and operate within parameters of the constitution and in relation to the Guyana Elections Commission also responsible for conducting the elections they too must abide by the provisions of the constitution.
Editor, I still believe that the new Gecom Chair retired Justice Claudette Singh will do the right thing by calling elections before the end of this year as stated by the Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo and save Guyana from being the center of international travesty by failing to upheld the rule of law. The world is watching.
Sincerely,
Robin Joseph
Councilor,
Waramuri Village
