Time for country to move forward, OAS Ambassador says

Jun 06, 2015 News

Deputy Secretary General of the Organisation of American States (OAS), Albert Ramdin has called on political parties to work together to ensure they fulfill their duty to the people, emphasizing that despite

OAS Deputy Secretary General, Albert Ramdin and OAS Guyana Representative, Jean Ricot Dormeus

election grievances a country has to move on.
In his final visit to Guyana before he demits office, Ramdin touted inclusive governance and reminded that if any political party is not in agreement with the results of the recently held elections, there are channels which they can use to address their objections.
The OAS Ambassador was at the time addressing members of the press at Pegasus Hotel, located on Battery Road, Georgetown. “We can only hope that once elections are done the country gets back together and looks in one direction for economic and social development.”
He expressed hope that the political parties and groups will take up the responsibilities they have, whether in parliament or civil society. “An inclusive way of governance and government is the best way forward to create the best opportunities for the peoples in a country,” he said adding, “We can see prosperity in the future of Guyana continuing.”
Questioned on the OAS’s views on the main opposition – the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) not accepting the results, Ramdin reiterated that the OAS had an election observer mission in Guyana which has already expressed its views on the electoral process.
“If a political party does not agree with the outcome then there are ways to deal with that within the electoral framework,” he said adding that there are also other opportunities they can use including the court.
Continuing, the OAS Ambassador said, “The elections especially when they are close elections where there is just a marginal difference between those who win and those who lose, always leaves a bad taste; it always creates problems but we have to recognise that democracy is a process whereby the election outcome, once the institutions have pronounced on that and once the timeframe for objections have taken place, that is time sometimes to move on and to recognise the authority that comes with it.”
Ramdin made clear that he is by no means saying that the disgruntled party cannot continue with clarifying its position, “but in the meantime a country has to move on and continue.” He said that the task is now on the disgruntled party to show where the elections went wrong, adding that the OAS Secretary General has already congratulated the new government.
“If there are issues where the OAS can play a role in facilitating dialogue in helping out in the process of getting parties together, that will depend on circumstances and it will depend also upon the invitation to the OAS to do so,” Ramdin replied when questioned on what possible assistance the OAS can offer.
The Assistant Secretary General emphasised that the OAS is always available as a third party to assist in bringing parties together, by invitation. He said, thus far, they have not been invited to do so.
Further, Ramdin said that officials from the OAS have engaged both the new government and the main opposition. “We listened to everybody. The OAS is not here for one party. The OAS is here for the country – Guyana,” he said.
Parliament is slated to convene next Wednesday but as the PPP/C hosted a press conference on Monday last it made clear that it has not yet decided whether it will be sitting in Parliament when it convenes.
The PPP/C said too that it has not yet decided on its National and Regional representatives. Resultantly, the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) said it will move forward and gazette the elections results, without the PPP/C’s Members of Parliament list.
Making clear that he did not visit to offer advice, Ramdin said, “I can only say in general terms that a democracy needs all voices to be heard. It means that when I speak of inclusive governance, we should not even think that a government can do everything: in terms of peace, prosperity and security. These issues in a society are the responsibility of all.”
He emphasised that all facets of society has to play a role in attaining this. “Of course the government has a major part to play in this and the parliament as the legislative output… so one would hope that a country can be governed by all its three branches; in the way that it can help facilitate peace, stability and prosperity because that is what a government is elected to do… to bring social and economic development and not to be distracted by political instability or deficiencies.”
Ramdin highlighted that parliament plays a critical role in this process and political parties have to determine how they will fulfill their duties, especially since they were elected to serve in parliament.