Latest update February 24th, 2025 6:16 AM
Former Ministers say goodbye to staff, return vehicles
– EU tells divided PPP/C to take grievance to court
As pressure mounts on the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) to withdraw its objections over a recount of Monday’s votes, it is becoming more evident that the party is split in its stance.
A number of Ministers have already thrown in the towel despite President Donald Ramotar sticking by his demands.
PPP General Secretary and former Minister of Home Affairs, Clement Rohee, began vacating the Queenstown residence he had called home for years.
The government had been paying a hefty rental for this property.
Minister within the Ministry of Finance, Juan Edghill, returned several vehicles, including SUVs, and other Government properties to his office.
Former Minister of Foreign Affairs, Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett has also returned a number of vehicles and has written to her staffers bidding them farewell.
So too did former Minister of Housing, Irfaan Ali who also returned all his vehicles.
On his Facebook page, former Ambassador to Kuwait and top PPP official, Odeen Ishmael, wrote Thursday night that it was time for the PPP/C to concede.
“It is my firm opinion that the PPP should concede since any recount will not statistically change the result of the elections as announced by GECOM. Good leadership is essential especially at this time; and by conceding and with the outgoing President meeting with the incoming President and offering working cooperation, at least that will be aptly
Rohee vacates Queenstown property.
demonstrated clearly to all Guyanese.”
This followed a more diplomatic Facebook post by Robert Persaud, former Natural Resources Minister on Thursday, who believed that the time was ripe for Guyana to explore shared governance in light of the elections results which showed the opposition coalition, A Partnership For National Unity/Alliance For Change (APNU+AFC), in the lead.
Former PPP executive and House Speaker, Ralph Ramkarran, has also come out urging the party to do the correct thing.
In his Facebook page, he said that the vote was a close one as predicted by many.
“The PPP should behave with some dignity, concede, telephone David Granger and offer congratulations, and offer their cooperation for the development for the country.”
Yesterday, the European Union joined the local and international community in making it clear that Monday’s votes were largely peaceful, transparent and inclusive with a high turnout and good performance of electoral authorities.
It urged the PPP/C to explore its legal options through the court.
“The EU calls on all actors to respect the legal procedures and address any possible grievance through the channels established by the law.”
Several similar calls have been coming from the religious, business and even the legal community.
Yesterday, the western envoys–US, Canada and the UK– reiterated their stance that voting process was above board and that their investigations by the PPP/C found nothing that would change the outcome of the elections.
It would have joined other observers like the Carter Center and the Commonwealth which says they are convinced the voting process was smooth.
PPP/C is claiming that a number of Statements of Poll (SOPS) were fake and that a recount is necessary.
Monday’s loss would be first for the PPP/C since taking office 23 years ago.
Support declined in recent years with widespread accusations of corruption and no action by consecutive administrations.
Several projects to the tune of billions of dollars have been questioned.
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