Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo warning that Guyana is heading towards a constitutional crisis, Monday met with members of the diplomatic community outlining his People’s Progressive Party (PPP) position on the need for fresh general elections by March.
India’s High Commissioner to Guyana, V. Mahalingam, who was among the diplomats attending the meeting, later told reporters that he now has an understanding of Jagdeo’s position following the collapse of the David Granger government last year.
Jagdeo had received the support of then government backbencher, Charrandass Persaud, on December 21, when he moved the motion of no confidence against the coalition administration. The matter has since been taken to the courts and a ruling is expected by month end.
The meeting with the diplomat community had been arranged by Jagdeo and Mexico’s Ambassador to Guyana, Ivan Robero Sierra Medel, told reporters the talks were cordial.
Some of the other attendees, including the IDB and United Nations representatives, did not make any comment to reporters.
Jagdeo said the meeting was aimed at keeping the diplomatic community up to date on the situation in the country and accused the government of continuing to behave as if “nothing has happened”.
He said that it was also acting as “if we are in a normal situation when we are heading to a constitutional crisis”.
The Guyana Constitution states that elections shall be called within three months of the passage of a no-confidence motion or at a time agreed to by two-thirds of the National Assembly.
“I pointed out clearly about that rapid pathway to a constitutional crisis and what will take place once the country gets into a constitutional crisis, how we will act and we made it clear what the approach will be on our side”, Jagdeo said.
Political and media reports here say that it is likely that President Granger and Jagdeo could meet soon e following last Friday’s meeting between their representatives and the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) about the Commission’s readiness for early elections.
That meeting ended with GECOM not being able to provide a timeline for early elections.
