Latest update January 18th, 2025 7:00 AM
PPP/C was never serious about participating in LGE…Surujbally comment just another excuse – Trotman
In the wake of the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) expressing reticence about participating in long awaited Local Government Elections (LGE) should Dr. Steve Surujbally still be Chairman of the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM), Minister of Governance, Raphael Trotman, has questioned whether the PPP/C was ever serious about participating in LGE.
Co- founder of the AFC and Minister of Governance Raphael Trotman
According to Trotman, yesterday, the PPP/C has never made any attempts to hold local government elections since 1994, despite stipulations mandating LGE every four years. While this situation suggested that they never had serious intentions in participating, their most recent statement on LGE confirms their insincerity.
Trotman, an Attorney- at- Law and former Speaker of the National Assembly, explained that LGE was a chance for citizens to participate in their local democracy at the grass roots level, without undue political interference from major political parties. According to him, bringing heavy party politics into the equation sours the entire process.
“The PPP/C’s non-participation is a blessing.” Trotman said. “It is a blessing in disguise, because the heavy hand of the party will not factor in.”
According to Trotman, a co- founder of the Alliance for Change (AFC), the old days of the 1960s democratic centralism were over and Guyanese should be left breathing space. The Attorney- at- Law also stated that the impending LGE, which are expected to be held in 2016, represented a chance to restore grass root participation in politics.
Trotman was also harshly critical of the PPP/C’s repeated calls for Surujbally’s resignation, asking why was the party suddenly incessant that Surujbally go, when he had presided over three elections (2006, 2011 and 2015). It was pointed out that the PPP/C never had a problem with the GECOM chairman then, when they won the elections. According to the Minister, the PPP/C only wanted someone around who would guarantee victory. “So them saying now that they do not want to hold LGE’s with Surujbally as Chairman is just another excuse.”
According to Trotman, the PPP/C not only wanted control over the LGE, but also over GECOM and who was in charge of the Commission. “This is grass roots; let the people choose.”
There have been weeks of intense agitation from the PPP/C calling for Surujbally’s head, after a narrow defeat at the May 11 polls saw the PPP/C losing the presidency for the first time in 23 years. While the elections were widely considered to be free and fair from inconsistencies, the PPP/C has maintained that GECOM, in conjunction with A Partnership for National Unity/ Alliance for Change (APNU+AFC) conspired to “rig” the elections.
The PPP/C has also mounted protests outside of GECOM’s head office in a bid to bring recognition to their cause. These protests were attended by the former President Donald Ramotar, as well as members from his former Cabinet and other senior party officials, except for former President Bharrat Jagdeo whose absence was conspicuous.
When the 11th parliament convened, recently, the PPP refused to occupy the opposition seats, leaving APNU+AFC Members of Parliament to be sworn in while the PPP/C mounted further protests outside of GECOM.
In addition, at the PPP/C’s weekly press conference last Monday, General Secretary of the party, Clement Rohee, reiterated the party’s determination to hold firm to the call for Surujbally’s resignation, stating that the party would not head to the long awaited Local Government Elections with Surujbally still at the head of GECOM at such a time.
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