PPP will not allow GECOM to subvert the constitution – Jagdeo

Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo has said his party will not sit idly by and allow the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) to subvert Guyana’s Constitution to its likening, while saying that the Commission is in breach of its statutory responsibilities for political reasons.

Addressing his weekly press conference on Thursday, Jagdeo said he believes GECOM has allegedly received clear direction from Government, and the three Commissioners representing the Government have also received these instructions too.
“Therefore their political role is to delay the election. They are in breach of their statutory duties and all of the responsibilities they have as Commissioners at GECOM. And they are acting in breach of the Constitution of Guyana, notwithstanding that they are just forging ahead for political reasons,” he added.
He recalled that earlier statements made by the GECOM secretariat had indicated that elections could be held anytime, and thereafter two timelines were proposed. The Opposition Leader also noted that the A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) staged protests across the country, stating that if there is no house-to-house registration “there will be war in Guyana.”
“And we have now heard the Commission anxiously and suddenly come up with a vote that predictably…with the three Government Commissioners and the Chairman (retired Justice James Patterson) that they can’t be ready in the three months as stated in our Constitution…They have not said anything about when they will be ready or whether they have started preparation.”
As such, Jagdeo said the Opposition may file legal action against GECOM in relation to a breach in its responsibilities. He explained that legal opinion is now being sought on the matter, but not to a great deal. In fact, he stated that dereliction of duty could the basis of such a challenge.

International sanctions
In the meantime, however, he told media operatives that his party plans to call for international sanctions, not only against GECOM, but some Commissioners. Jagdeo noted that he would prefer personal sanctions as opposed to the entire country, because the nation could suffer.
Furthermore, he said if there were any doubts that the coalition Government is pulling strings at GECOM, the actions taken over the past few months is enough proof to validate the argument that the Commission is being influenced by the People’s National Congress (PNC).
“We are going to mount our call for that and we are going to brief all the organisations. We have already started doing that and have our voice go to the capitals around the world to deal with this situation,” he stated, explaining that he plans to meet with more foreign diplomats.
Asked again whether he plans to meet with President David Granger to address the issues before it becomes a constitutional crisis, Jagdeo said he does not intend to request any meeting and will not be part of any meeting for public relations purposes.
He said the Government appears in denial since the No-confidence Motion and he does not understand why he has to “always be the responsible one” when it comes to the issues related to the no-confidence vote and possible early elections.
GECOM had given July as a timeline for the hosting of elections, but at the same time, it stated that the present voters’ list would expire on April 30.
Although the Opposition has been calling for elections within the constitutional time frame, the Government claimed that it was up to GECOM’s readiness to host same.
Since the passage of the no-confidence resolution, GECOM has been dragging its feet with respect to elections preparation. It has also been calling for house-to-house registration which could take months. However, it is President David Granger who has to dissolve Parliament and set a date for elections.