President Rebuffs Business Community Statement on Political Situation
GEORGEROWN, Guyana – President David Granger says he is not impressed with the statement by the Private Sector Commission (PSC) and its affiliates that “political uncertainty” is gripping the country as it awaits a Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) ruling on the ongoing political situation in the country.
“There’s no chaos or confusion or crisis in the political situation. Everything that has happened since the 21st of December has been logical, and on the part of the government it has been within the framework of the law.
“I do not know how valid that perception is but as far as I’m concerned, the government has done nothing to engender any disorder or any despair in the business community. So, I don’t want to say whether that’s a valid perception or not but we are continuing to work,” Granger said in reaction to the private sector statement.
The PSC said that it wants the Trinidad-based CCJ, which is the country’s highest court, to deliver a “prompt” resolution to the appeals that have been filed by the Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo and attorney Christopher Ram with respect to the ruling of the Court of Appeal that invalidated the December 21, 2018 opposition inspired motion of no confidence that had toppled the Granger-led coalition administration.
Last Friday, the Guyana Court of Appeal ruled that a simple majority and an absolute majority could not be seen as the same in the Constitution of Guyana and therefore there would have been the need for an absolute majority of 34 votes for the motion to be passed.
By a split margin, the three member panel of judges ruled that the no confidence motion was not passed, based on 34 votes not being obtained.
Jagdeo wants the CCJ to have an early hearing of the case because of its “national importance”.
In the statement, the PSC said Guyana is now going through “political uncertainty” and it may be affecting the business climate. Further, it argued that discussions with local and international businesses have resulted in expressions of reservations in investing as the “uncertainty” continues.
It said that there has been a reduction in government and private sector contracts directly attributable to the uncertainty.
“The Commission calls on the Caribbean Court of Justice to provide a prompt resolution to this matter so that both local and international organizations and businesses would again see Guyana as a country with boundless opportunities,” the PSC said.
But Granger said that everything being done by his government had been undertaken within the laws of the country.
“Up to last Friday, you know, we used our legal rights to go to the Appeal Court and I understand from the newspapers the Opposition is using their legal right to go to the CCJ. That’s not crisis, that’s not confusion.
“So, I don’t think that the perception that you’ve mentioned, that you’ve spoken to me about is a valid perception, and we will continue trying to do our best to give the people of Guyana a good Government and a good life,” President Granger said.
He said that while the main opposition People’s Progressive Party (PPP) has said that it would be boycotting the National Assembly until the CCJ ruling, Parliament will soon convene to ensure that the Guyana Elections Commission i(GECOM) s properly funded to prepare for and host general and regional elections, whenever they are called. – CMC
