Dr. Ramsaroop urges PPP/C boycott of Parliament
“HALF of the country seems to be at a virtual standstill, like it or not…One half seems excited that they got the edge due to the inconsistency of the counting of election results, while the other half feels cheated.”At least this is the view of political activist, Dr. Peter R. Ramsaroop who, during the 2015 General and Regional Elections contested as a candidate for the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C).
He has since been in the forefront along with other PPP/C leaders calling for a recount of the votes by the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM).
According to Dr. Ramsaroop, “Claiming there is a majority government with less than 4000 votes more, which in itself is a controversial number given no recount was authorised is appalling. I would consider it a statistical tie at this point until a recount happens.”
He posits: “Our economy is coming to a grinding halt as the Administration attempts to gain credibility by ensuring their half of the country validates that everything the PPP/C did was bad and none of them benefited.”
The trained economist told the Chronicle, “I believe in data and this approach is an emotional and political manoeuvring by the new Administration without any rational thinking in many areas…This will be a subject of intense debates for a long period to come.”
He suggests there are already early indications, “that many businesses are halting any new investments, foreign direct investors are wary of the change of Government, especially in light of potential border issues again with Venezuela, and the threat of the recount that can see the 2015 elections being deemed null and void and new elections called, while many of the APNU overseas supporters are arriving in the country to see what they can get from the system, versus bringing in investments.”
He suggests too that the international community in their efforts to justify their decision to call the election fair and free seems to have taken front and centre stage in every aspect of governance.
“Daily, one would see an Ambassador or a High Commissioner meeting with officials and promising money for process-improvement activities, even giving direction on how the government should operate and what they must do. While all this is happening, the APNU +AFC ministers are taking the opportunity to say everything is in bad shape in order to sometime in the future be able to claim they were successful.”
According to Dr Ramsaroop, during this period, although early, “we have not heard of a single initiative that indicates any new macroeconomic improvements, no initiatives on what is on the forefront for Guyana, where will new revenues come from.”
As such, Dr Ramsaroop said, “I support the PPP/C not going into Parliament, even for the life-cycle of this Administration.”
According to him, “One may ask why the PPP/C would want to be in Parliament to discuss these same issues that were disapproved before. What would have really changed? Let us think clearly about our future.”
Head of State President David Granger, has proclaimed Wednesday as the first day in the life of the 11th Parliament at which point in time all of its members will be elected along with a Speaker and Deputy Speaker.
By Gary Eleazar
I want the Guyana govt to check out his military "accomplishments." Only governments are allowed to do that.
