Georgetown: President Donald Ramotar is expected to dissolve the 10th Parliament of the National Assembly by or before month-end in keeping with the requirement and the spirit of the Constitution of Guyana.
Ramotar was expected by his political opponents to issue a presidential order or proclamation on Tuesday or today that would have cleared the way for the dissolution of the 65-seat legislature three months ahead of the planned May 11, 2015 elections.
Attorney General (AG) and Legal Affairs Minister Anil Nandlall explained that the Head of State can dissolve Parliament any date after February 12 this year.
He explained that the Constitution requires that Parliament “must be dissolved within three months” of the date announced for elections.
Nandlall stated that legislation also adumbrated another requirement: political parties must present their lists of candidates some 32 days prior to the planned date for elections to the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM).
The AG said if one counts backwards and discounts the 32 days which must be available for the political parties to submit their lists then the President can choose to dissolve Parliament any date before this time period expires. Thirty-two days before May 11 would be April 9 and, therefore, this could be Nomination Day for Elections 2015 if the President chooses to dissolve Parliament in February.
Additionally, the President could move swiftly and to avoid any sort of crisis to dissolve the Parliament by February 28 this year.
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