President David Granger met with members of the Diplomatic Community this morning and this afternoon he invited and made a statement to members of civil society at State House.

In that statement, the President said his government remains respectful of the Caribbean Court of Justice’s ruling and of the Guyana Constitution. He said the government has not gone in contravention of either.

The President said when it comes to a date for the elections, that is dependent on the readiness of the Elections Commission and it is not for the Court or the President to direct the independent Guyana Elections Commission.

“No other agency or organ of the state has responsibility for elections. Only the Elections Commission. The independence of the Elections Commission is safeguarded by the Constitution. It is insulated from political influence, instruction and interference. The President cannot influence, the President cannot instruct, the President cannot interfere. The President cannot tell the Elections Commission when elections must be held, neither can the Court”, President Granger said.

He said it is the Constitution that charges the Elections Commission with the conduct of Elections, adding that the elections must be supervised by the independent Elections Commission.

The President told the Civil Society gathering of private-sector agencies, religious groups, unions and others that he has been meeting in good faith with the Opposition on the issue of the selection of a GECOM Chairman. He said it appears as though the Opposition has not been meeting in good faith.

Mr. Granger said the CCJ’s ruling caters for the President having a role in the selection of the names to be submitted to him for consideration for the Chairman of the Elections Commission.

He said “any list emerging out of a process which does not accord serious considerations to the government’s recommendations, in the spirt of the Caribbean Court of Justice would be spurious and I would have great difficulty in accepting such a list”.

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Govt. adhering to CCJ ruling and agreement with Opposition in search for new GECOM Chairman -says Pres. Granger President’s appointment of Justice Patterson as GECOM Chairman flawed -CCJ GECOM has to advise when Elections could be held . -Pres. Granger GECOM Chairman decision “entirely within the Constitution and it is not undemocratic” -Pres. David Granger.