Latest update April 19th, 2024 12:59 AM
Apr 16, 2016 News
– PPP Chief Whip
The People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) is maintaining that the appointments made by the Minister of Communities, Ronald Bulkan, in areas where there was an equality of seats, were illegal.
At a press conference hosted by the party – the main parliamentary opposition’s Chief Whip, Gail Teixeira, told media operatives that the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) has the power to resolve the issues.
It should step in to make sure that the laws are maintained.
The PPP/C took to the courts to reverse the decision by Minister Bulkan to “illegally” appoint Mayors, Deputy Mayors, Chairmen and Vice Chairmen.
Teixeira said that the move was also made to prevent the Town Clerks and Overseers from ‘further illegalities’ and to have them comply with the electoral laws, which she said, require that the Town Clerks and Overseers name the date(s) for a run-off election.
Since being “served” by the courts, “none of these have proceeded to name the dates for these elections.”
The Chief Whip continued that GECOM’s role in conducting the elections is not over until the elections of the tied Local Authority Areas are concluded.
Teixeira said that GECOM has to ensure that the elections are completed in all the 71 Local Authority Areas (LAAs) and to ensure also, that the Town Clerks and Overseers comply with the relevant sections of the Municipal and District Councils Act and the Local Authorities Election Act.
“GECOM is well aware of the laws. These persons are in violation of the electoral laws and therefore, using the constitutional mandate they must ensure that they comply. GECOM cannot wiggle out of its constitutional responsibilities for the conduct of the elections and to uphold and ensure impartiality, fairness, etc,” the Chief Whip stated.
Teixeira also spoke of a proposal made by the PPP/C to the government requesting that the top positions in the tied LAA’s be rotated on an annual basis.
However, this proposal was shot down and a counter-proposal was made.
The counter-proposal, the Chief Whip explained, was that each party takes the two top positions for the three LAA’s where they had plurality for until the next Local Government Elections.
If this counter-proposal was not accepted by the PPP/C, the Minister of Communities, will proceed to appoint, Teixeira said she was told.
“I advised that the law made no such provisions for the Minister to do so at this stage…I believe that GECOM can resolve the issue, and has power to be able to step in and ensure that the laws are upheld in relation to the electoral process in order to end this situation and to complete the electoral process 2016, Local Government Elections.” Teixeira said.
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