Leader of the Opposition and PNC Reform Leader Aubrey Norton today called on the President to stop “dilly-dallying” and begin the process to address consultations that would lead the way to various constitutional appointments.

During a press briefing this morning, the Opposition Leader said he remains ready to engage the President and consult on the constitutional matters and appointments.  He said it is up to the President when those talks will begin.

“It is now up to the President to stop the protracted dilly-dallying and fulfill his own constitutional responsibilities. Any further misinterpretation of my position or any further fighting of windmills can only be seen as malevolent”, Norton said.

Mr. Norton also dismissed contentions by former Speaker and former Presidential Candidate for A New and United Guyana, Ralph Ramkarran that many of the issues Norton might want to raise at the meeting should be dealt with at the Parliamentary level. 

The Opposition said all of the issues could be addressed, even if separately.

He said “nowhere was it suggested that the appointments are not a priority. In fact, I clearly indicated my readiness to fulfill my constitutional responsibilities and, therefore, added that any further delays in consultations can only be due to PPP’s political scheming. For the avoidance of doubt, let me state as follows. Discussions on the appointment of judges and commissioners can be managed as a standalone agenda item, delinked from any other matter”.

Mr. Norton said the other issues outside of appointments must also be addressed, especially issues related to the poor and law and order.  

“The appointment of a few judges and commissioners (as important as they are) cannot, however, even begin to save the country from its headlong fall into the escalating crisis in democracy and governance under the PPP government. The PPP is hell-bent – propelled by its arrogance and sense of entitlement – on entrenching an Oligarchy government by a few, a Kleptocracy, a government characterized by rampant greed and corruption, and a Plutocracy, a government by and for the wealthy in Guyana. There must be a place for the poor so they can benefit from our national patrimony”.

Last week, President Ali said he will be dispatching an invitation to meet with the Opposition Leader within two weeks.  The President intends for the meeting to focus on the appointment of a substantive Commissioner of Police and other related matters.

Since taking office two years ago, the President has held no consultations with the main political opposition.

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