Forget Snap Elections – Luncheon registers Gov’t disinterest in preempting No Confidence Motion
By Kurt Campbell
Cabinet Secretary. Dr. Roger Luncheon.
[www.inewsguyana.com] – Cabinet Secretary Dr. Roger Luncheon has put to rest, speculation that the administration is likely to call snap elections ahead of the Opposition sponsored No – Confidence Motion which is expected to be debated when Parliament resumes on October 10.
Luncheon told reporters this morning that the administration is not interested in what he termed a “futile course of action” as a “bypass” to the possibility of a successful No – Confidence Motion.
“Forget snap elections… it wouldn’t happen,” he said.
There was talk that the administration will call snap elections to avoid being brought down by a vote of no confidence but according to Dr. Luncheon, the administration is prepared to wait and see the outcome of the combined parliamentary Opposition’s plans.
Meanwhile, the Cabinet Secretary restated President Donald Ramotar’s request for clarity from Opposition Leader David Granger on the Opposition’s position in relation to local and general elections.
Pointing out that both cannot be executed at the same time, Luncheon reminded of the pending confidence motion in the face of pressure from the Opposition Leader for the Head of State to announce a date for the holding of local government elections even as he renewed his commitment to supporting the motion.
Granger had written to the President last week urging him to announce a date for the long overdue LGE by September 15. He threatened that if this was not done he would mobilize local, national and international support “in defence of democracy.”
“Cabinet now awaits Granger’s response to the President’s request for clarity… it appears APNU intends to have their cake and eat it,” he added.
Luncheon declined to detail the administration’s preference in relation to local and general elections but maintained that Cabinet feels strongly that both cannot be held at the same time.
Luncheon, in an opinionated assessment, says the Guyana Elections Commission does not seem to be preparing for LGE but rather general elections.
