President David Granger will address Guyanese on Wednesday amid speculation that he is likely to announce the date for fresh regional and general elections as mandated by the Trinidad-based Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ).
A brief government statement said that Granger met Tuesday with members of his Cabinet “and discussed the issue of holding of credible General and Regional elections in Guyana at the earliest possible time.”
The statement said that President Granger “will address the nation tomorrow evening at a time to be advised.”
On Monday, Commonwealth Secretary-General, Patricia Scotland, called on President Granger and “ all relevant stakeholders and institutions” to immediately set a date for fresh regional and general elections in the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) country.
Scotland said she was urging all stakeholders “to restore constitutional rule in Guyana by immediately setting an early election date in consonance with its constitution, enabling elections to be held without further delay”.
The CCJ, which is the country’s highest court, had in July said that the vote of no confidence which had been passed last December against Granger’s coalition administration was valid and urged all parties to adhere to the provisions of the country’s constitution.
Under the Guyana Constitution, the elections should take place 90 days after the vote of no confidence is passed. The Constitution also makes provision for an extension of the period based only on a two-thirds majority vote in the Parliament.
President Granger has said in the past that he would only announce a date for the elections after he has been given the go ahead by the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) that it is prepared to host the event.
Last week, the recently appointed GECOM Chair, retired justice Claudette Singh said an election can be held here by the end of February next year.
The main opposition People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C), which has been campaigning for the early poll after successfully tabling the motion of no confidence, said it is disappointed that the polls would most likely be held in February next year.
In a joint statement last week, the United States, Britain and the European Union, said “the prevailing political uncertainty undermines Guyanese institutions, compromises economic opportunities and delays development”.
