CARICOM Chair calls for respect of CCJ ruling, expects declaration `without further delay’

Ralph Gonsalves
Ralph Gonsalves

New CARICOM Chair Ralph Gonsalves today urged respect of yesterday’s Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) ruling by all stakeholders and he said he expected an early declaration by GECOM of the result of the March 2nd general elections.

A statement by the CARICOM Chair follows:

 
Statement by the Chairman of the  Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Dr. The Honourable Ralph Gonsalves, Prime Minister of St. Vincent and the  Grenadines, on the ruling by the  Caribbean Court of  Justice

The Caribbean Community (CARICOM) welcomes the progress towards the finalisation of the electoral process in Guyana following the ruling of the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) on Wednesday 8 July. The Community calls on all stakeholders to respect the ruling of the CCJ, Guyana’s final court of appeal.

Indeed, the CCJ in the summary judgement aptly stated: “It has been four months since the elections were held and the country has been without a Parliament for well over a year. No one in Guyana would regard this to be a satisfactory state of affairs. We express the fervent hope that there would quickly be a peaceable restoration of normalcy.”

Accordingly, the Court’s ruling should lead to a declaration by the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) of the results of the General and Regional Elections held on 2 March 2020, without further delay. 

CARICOM commends the continuing patience and calm of the people of Guyana and calls on all stakeholders to respect the rule of law.