The Opposition People’s Progressive Party is not convinced that the President is serious about a March 2, 2020 elections date and the party is of the view that the call by the President for a return to Parliament to seek an extension is an attempt to blackmail the Opposition.

“The People’s Progressive Party (PPP) remains convinced that his call for a return to the National Assembly is an attempt to blackmail the Parliamentary Opposition into extending the life of his illegal government, so that he can secure some legal cover for the many illegal acts, including the approval of billions in contracts, which have been committed since the passage of the no-confidence motion on December 21, 2018.  All of this is taking place as he grasps for some level of respectability”, the statement said.

According to the PPP, there is no valid link between the naming of an elections date and the need to return to Parliament.

The party said it is “wholly unnecessary for him to discharge his constitutional duty to proclaim a date for Elections and dissolve Parliament, nor is it linked to a requirement for GECOM to be ready for Elections”.

The Opposition party said nothing short of a signed proclamation from the President, declaring a date for General and Regional Elections, will be credible. 

President Granger in his address said the extension of a period beyond three months for the holding of an election is related to the Elections Commission’s readiness to hold the elections.

“The Government of Guyana must, as a consequence, return to the National Assembly to request an extension. The National Assembly reconvenes on 10^th October 2019″, the President noted in his address.

The Opposition Leader has been saying for months that his party will not be returning to the National Assembly to grant any extension.

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