The European Union (EU) yesterday said that it welcomes President Donald Ramotar’s announcement on Tuesday of early general elections as well as regional elections to be held on 11 May 2015.
It said that this will launch the process of the renewal of local and national democratic institutions.
“The EU encourages all parties to pursue dialogue and inclusiveness in order to guarantee peace and stability before, during and after the elections.
“The EU will remain a steadfast partner of Guyana and will continue to support its development efforts and regional role”, the statement said.
Brussels is now at the centre of a controversy in which the Head of the Presidential Secretariat, Dr Roger Luncheon and Minister of Finance Dr Ashni Singh have accused it of withholding budgetary support funds that had been previously agreed upon. Luncheon charged that the EU and Britain had conspired to withhold the funds. The British High Commis-sioner Andrew Ayre recently came in for scathing attack from government officials over his statements here calling for an end to the prorogation of Parliament.
The EU’s statement yesterday did not address the funds controversy. It is unclear how much money has been withheld and on what grounds. Singh did not elaborate on the reasons for the withholding of the funds except to say that it was on “spurious” grounds.
