ANUG would support approval for election date extension if polls are set for this year -Ramkarran

The former Speaker of the National Assembly said it is clear that with the ruling by the Chief Justice, the names of already registered persons who may not be around during the current exercise, cannot be removed from the register of registrants.

ANUG would support approval for election date extension if polls are set for this year  -Ramkarran

Although it may not be represented in the National Assembly, A New and United Guyana (ANUG) political party, has indicated that it would support an extension in the date for elections once elections will be held this year.

In a Facebook Live video release, the General Secretary of the party, Ralph Ramkarran, said “we as a political party would support the Leader of the Opposition and we will call for an extension of the time to hold the elections, even if it’s beyond September 18, once the elections are being held this year and we believe that the Leader of the Opposition and the People’s Progressive Party would be inclined to support an extension in the National Assembly even though they have not said so officially”.

Mr. Ramkarran said it is hoped that the GECOM discussions could lead to such a position.

Under the Constitution of Guyana, following the passage of a no-confidence motion, elections have to be called within three months or at a time agreed to by two-thirds of the National Assembly.

The People’s Progressive Party would have to support an extension to allow a two-thirds majority. The party, through its General Secretary Bharrat Jagdeo has said the PPP will not be supporting any extension in the government’s life in office.

The former Speaker of the National Assembly said it is clear that with the ruling by the Chief Justice, the names of already registered persons who may not be around during the current exercise, cannot be removed from the register of registrants.

He said what that does is it takes the list back to the same 2018 list and therefore the current house to house registration, although legal, would be “a waste of time’.

Mr. Ramkarran said the country is currently in a “tense political situation” and there would be worry for the economic impact as a result of the political situation.

Last week, while admitting that some foreign investors may have put some investment decisions on pause, Finance Minister Winston Jordan, reported that the economy was still growing and doing better than expected.

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