GPSU calls on Opposition to return to Parliament

DPI, Guyana, Wednesday, September 25, 2019

President of the Guyana Public Service Union (GPSU), Patrick Yarde has called on the Opposition to respect Guyana’s Constitution and return to the National Assembly to support a two-thirds majority to extend the elections timeline.

Yard was addressing the 23rd Biennial Delegates’ Conference at the Baridi Benab, State House.

“I challenge the Opposition Leader to respect the Constitution [of Guyana] by returning to Parliament to extend the life for elections and thereafter tone down the rhetoric and stop peddling misinformation that would result in breaches of the law,” he said.

Yarde affirmed that there must be no technicalities used to compromise the constitutional ability of one’s right to vote at elections, and reiterated the call for a credible voters’ list.

“We are of the very firm position that the voters’ list must be credible in accordance with the Constitution. This masquerade show that has been taking place, we don’t support it; the voters’ list must be credible; the people who are voting must be eligible to vote,” he said.

For that reason, he said GPSU has applied to GECOM to be a domestic observer for the much-anticipated elections.

On June 18, the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) ruled that the vote of December 21 was properly passed. Hence, there have been increased calls for elections to be held. However, there has also been widespread calls for House-to-House Registration to be held; something that GECOM is preparing to conduct.

Since the current Official List of Electors (OLE), commonly referred to as the voters’ list, has been expired, the main Parliamentary Opposition party has been calling for the now-discredited list to be used. However, His Excellency, President David Granger has been resolute in his decision for there to be a clean voters’ list before General and Regional Elections are held.