EU ambassador calls for politicians to reach across the divide
Written by Kwesi Isles
Friday, 14 October 2011 11:22
Source
EU ambassador Geert Heikens
Outgoing European Union (EU) ambassador in Georgetown, Geert Heikens says he would have liked to see more Guyanese politicians reaching across party lines to ease the tension on the political front.
Heikens, who leaves on October 23 after four and a half years here, told reporters at his farewell news conference on Friday that there is without a doubt democracy in Guyana.
“But there are issues where we would like to see some ease in dealing with each other maybe. Lines are drawn according to the lines of the political party and the crossing over of political parties we don’t see that much. There’s opposition and then there’s government, I would like to see a little bit more crossing over between the parties,” he said.
According to the EU Delegation Head, Guyana has a young democracy and he added that the country is only about 20 years out of “quite dark days,” a reference to PNC rule which ended in 1992 with the victory at the polls of the still in power PPP.
Democracy is not found today for tomorrow and democracy is not one size fits all,” Heikens cautioned. But he added that having politicians reach out would help ease the political scene.
Heikens also stated that they wish matters could be dealt with more expeditiously but acknowledged that the government shares the same sentiment.
“We have that issue maybe but I think it is also mutual; we are both in this atmosphere of bureaucracy,” he said.
Looking to the future, the ambassador said he foresees a very different Guyana in the next five years given the potential revenues that could be derived from a booming gold prices and possible uranium and oil and gas finds.
“Seeing these revenue sources that are coming up in Guyana it can change this country tremendously. It is therefore so important also to see what are we going to do with this revenue. The Low Carbon initiative I think is a good guidance so I think I should come back in five years and I’m sure I’ll see a different Guyana,” Heikens said.
The EU Delegation has not sought observer status for the November 28 polls citing the free and fair nature of the 2006 polls but Heikens said they are still going to play a “watch role” and will be out on Elections Day.
“We are interested; we are trying to get to a possibility where my staff here will be in a position to watch the elections. That means we will register at GECOM so we will also have the vest from GECOM, we will not link up with say the UNDP, CARICOM or the OAS, we will have a small team from the persons here to go to the polling stations.
Congratulations that Guyana is not on the list that we have to send observers … but we’ll not sit at home that day and look at the televised outcome,” Heikens said.
Written by Kwesi Isles
Friday, 14 October 2011 11:22
Source
EU ambassador Geert HeikensOutgoing European Union (EU) ambassador in Georgetown, Geert Heikens says he would have liked to see more Guyanese politicians reaching across party lines to ease the tension on the political front.
Heikens, who leaves on October 23 after four and a half years here, told reporters at his farewell news conference on Friday that there is without a doubt democracy in Guyana.
“But there are issues where we would like to see some ease in dealing with each other maybe. Lines are drawn according to the lines of the political party and the crossing over of political parties we don’t see that much. There’s opposition and then there’s government, I would like to see a little bit more crossing over between the parties,” he said.
According to the EU Delegation Head, Guyana has a young democracy and he added that the country is only about 20 years out of “quite dark days,” a reference to PNC rule which ended in 1992 with the victory at the polls of the still in power PPP.
Democracy is not found today for tomorrow and democracy is not one size fits all,” Heikens cautioned. But he added that having politicians reach out would help ease the political scene.
Heikens also stated that they wish matters could be dealt with more expeditiously but acknowledged that the government shares the same sentiment.
“We have that issue maybe but I think it is also mutual; we are both in this atmosphere of bureaucracy,” he said.
Looking to the future, the ambassador said he foresees a very different Guyana in the next five years given the potential revenues that could be derived from a booming gold prices and possible uranium and oil and gas finds.
“Seeing these revenue sources that are coming up in Guyana it can change this country tremendously. It is therefore so important also to see what are we going to do with this revenue. The Low Carbon initiative I think is a good guidance so I think I should come back in five years and I’m sure I’ll see a different Guyana,” Heikens said.
The EU Delegation has not sought observer status for the November 28 polls citing the free and fair nature of the 2006 polls but Heikens said they are still going to play a “watch role” and will be out on Elections Day.
“We are interested; we are trying to get to a possibility where my staff here will be in a position to watch the elections. That means we will register at GECOM so we will also have the vest from GECOM, we will not link up with say the UNDP, CARICOM or the OAS, we will have a small team from the persons here to go to the polling stations.
Congratulations that Guyana is not on the list that we have to send observers … but we’ll not sit at home that day and look at the televised outcome,” Heikens said.