The Organisation of American States (OAS) today said it hopes that parliamentary debate here could resume in the shortest possible time and it noted that an efficiently functioning Parliament allows for checks and balances and for the voice of the people to be heard.

In a statement, OAS Secretary General Jose Miguel Insulza urged the governing and opposition political parties to “redouble their efforts to reach an understanding and compromise on the major political and socio-economic issues facing the country”.

The OAS statement follows:

Statement of the OAS Secretary General on the Prorogation of Parliament in Guyana

Jose Miguel Insulza

The Secretary General of the Organization of American States (OAS), Jose Miguel Insulza, took note of Proclamation No. 1 of 2014, dated November 10, 2014, in which President Donald Ramotar prorogued the Tenth Parliament of Guyana with immediate effect for a maximum period of six months and observed that the prorogation of the Parliament of Guyana issued by President Ramotar has occurred within the framework of the country’s constitution.

The head of the hemispheric Organization stated that, in a democracy, an efficient functioning of the Parliament allows for checks and balances and for the voice of the people to be heard. Since the last elections in November 2011, Guyana has had a split governance system with the executive controlled by one party and the combined opposition having the majority in Parliament. This situation presents both challenges and opportunities for all parties in Guyana to work together for the greater good of the country. In light of this reality the Secretary General of the OAS urges both the governing and opposition political parties to redouble their efforts to reach an understanding and compromise on the major political and socio-economic issues facing the country.

Secretary General Insulza also said he hoped that parliamentary debate could be resumed in the 10th Parliament in the shortest possible period of time.