GUYANA-POLITICS-President Could Call Early General Elections

GEORGETOWN, Guyana, Nov 05, 2014 CNS – President Donald Ramotar has warned opposition legislators he is prepared to exercise his constitutional options by either dissolving or proroguing Parliament if they intend to proceed with plans “to disrupt government’s business by forcing a debate on their no confidence motion” in his administration.

In a television and radio broadcast on Tuesday night, Ramotar also pledged to hold long awaited Local Government elections in “the second quarter of next year, 2015”.

Local Government election was last held here in 1994 with the ruling People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPPC) winning the polls.

In his address, Ramotar said that Parliament will re-convene from its annual recess on Monday and that the Order Paper will reflect deliberations on “several important matters…not completed at the beginning of the recess as well as new matters.

“These matters will allow us, all our people, to build a better society and a more resilient economy,” he said, noting that some of the legislative agenda items include the  Anti-Money Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism Legislation, the telecommunications legislation as well as financial papers providing for  expenditure of public funds for development projects.

Ramotar told citizens that they are all aware of the decision by the opposition to file a motion of no confidence in his administration and that if passed will result in a general election.

The opposition parties, A partnership for National Unity (APNU) and the Alliance for Change (AFC) control 33 of the 65 seats in the Parliament.

CNS/db/2014