President David Granger, this afternoon, received a courtesy call from representatives of the Carter Center at State House and assured them that he will act decisively on receiving advice from the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) as to its readiness to conduct General and Regional Elections.
A release from the Ministry of the Presidency said that the Carter Center representatives over the last week have met with Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo, Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs, Basil Williams, SC; Leader of the Opposition, Bharrat Jagdeo and the Chair and Commissioners of the Elections Commission.
The release said that President Granger was accompanied by Minister of Public Health, Volda Lawrence who last Friday led a ministerial delegation at a meeting with the Chair and Commissioners of GECOM, and Minister of State, Dawn Hastings-Williams.
The Carter Center team has been meeting with various stakeholders on options for the way forward for general elections.
Last March, a Carter Center team, comprising Jason Carter, who is the grandson of former US President Jimmy Carter, David Carroll and Associate Director Brett Lacy, had proposed that General and Regional Elections could be held in August, provided that regulations, which are part of the National Registration Act, were used in lieu of HtH registration to cleanse the list of electors of non-resident Guyanese.
“I think ultimately our role here of course is limited. We’re not Guyanese [but] we care about this country. The Carter Center has been here for many, many years, almost 30 years. This country is important to my grandfather. It’s important to me and my family as well but ultimately the issues that are being confronted right now [are] going to require the cooperation of political leadership of this country and we are optimistic, and we have had a very productive meeting with GECOM,” Carter said before leaving.
As described on its website, the Atlanta, Georgia, US-based Carter Center, “in partnership with Emory University, is guided by a fundamental commitment to human rights and the alleviation of human suffering. It seeks to prevent and resolve conflicts, enhance freedom and democracy, and improve health”.
