Local Government Elections which were due to be held by the end of this year will not take place, and President Irfaan Ali appear to be placing blame at the feet of the Opposition political parties.
The President cited the deadlock over the composition of the Opposition nominated Commissioners of the Guyana Elections Commission. But the Guyana Elections Commission remains in place with Commissioners nominated by both the Government and the Opposition.
When the Opposition Leader had written to the President indicating his nominees for the Commission, his letters were ignored.
At a press conference today, the President would not say whether he will support an amendment to the constitution to revamp and reform GECOM, but said the ball is in the Opposition’s court.
“We are ready but as you are aware, there is certain things that is outside of the control of government and those things have to be settled and that has nothing to do with the government, there are some issues with the Opposition itself and the Court’s are there for a purpose and if any stakeholder believe they need something to be questioned or be anyalyzed they use the judiciary, so we are ready, we are always ready in accordance with the constitution,” Mr. Ali said.
Local government elections were last held in Guyana in June 2023 and was again due to be held this year, but the Commission has not met in over a year which has significantly hampered any elections planning work. The Chairman of the Elections Commission has not indicated any reason for her decision not to call statutory meetings of the Commission.
More than $6.9 billion was approved in this year’s budget for Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) and the hosting of local government elections this year.
“We are ready for Local government elections, I believe that local government elections are essential for our country, the renewal of leadership is key as part of our democratic frame, the People’s Progressive Party Civic has always outperform every other contender in Local Government Elections we have participated in every single consistency in those elections,” the President said.
In the past, the PPP Civic administration has gone on for several years without hosting local government elections, and would always lay blame on the opposition parties.
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