Guyana President David Granger To Meet With Guyana Elections Commission Tomorrow

GEORGETOWN, Guyana March 7, 2019 (CMC) – A meeting has been scheduled for tomorrow morning, between President David Granger and Commissioners of the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) to discuss issues related, to the upcoming general election.

In a statement, yesterday, Granger signaled his intention to meet with the Commission to better understand its readiness and needs for the hosting of early elections, which have been triggered by a December 21, 2018 no-confidence vote.

“GECOM is an autonomous, GECOM is an independent agency and there is no part in the Constitution, which gives the President or the Executive, in general, authority to interfere, intervene or intrude in the work of the Elections Commission…we are moving towards elections, but GECOM is in charge of elections, not the Executive. I cannot decide when elections will be held, GECOM has to advise,” Granger said then.

According to GECOM, it cannot hold credible elections within the time frame that is being suggested by the main opposition People’s Progressive Party (PPP), and has suggested the polls could most likely be held in July.

Jagdeo has been calling for fresh regional and general elections to be held by March 19, in keeping with the provisions of the Guyana Constitution.

But in a meeting with President Granger yesterday, the Opposition Leader extended an “olive branch”, saying that his party would lend its support for extending the elections, providing it is scheduled for a date before April 30, 2019.

The Constitution of Guyana caters for elections to be held within 90 days of the passage of a no-confidence motion, or at time, agreed to by two-thirds of the National Assembly.