Georgetown : President Donald Ramotar has signed the formal proclamation declaring May 11, 2015 as the date for General and Regional elections in Guyana, and will be soon gazetted as stipulated by the Constitution.
The Head of State today briefed the Government Information Agency that the date was chosen, based on the available dates that the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) provided, by which it would be ready to conduct the polls, “and all the dates that they gave me fell within the exams period, so I chose one …unavoidably we have this (brouhaha over the date)”. Continuing his reference to the comments about the polling date clashing with CSEC and CAPE examinations, President Ramotar said he is pleased with the preparations and alternative arrangements put in place by the Ministry of Education.
The Caribbean Secondary Examination Certificate (CSEC) and the Caribbean Advanced Proficiency Examinations (CAPE) scheduled for May 11 and 16, 2015 have been shifted to June 15 and 16 respectively. The new dates were set after consultations with the Caribbean Examinations Council (CXC) and other stakeholders about what might be best for candidates.
“The main thing is that it will not put our students at a disadvantage, and in fact I think it will give them some more time to study,” President Ramotar stated.
Meanwhile, the president emphasised that the People’s Progressive Party Civic (PPPC), will base its campaign, as it runs for office, on its track record of development, “even though the last three years were very constrictive because of the fact that the joint opposition got a one-seat majority in Parliament, I’m still very proud of what we were able to achieve in the circumstances”.
He added that he is also proud of the PPP/C’s record in office, particularly since that party has transformed the country, “So I think I’m running on solid ground”.
With regards to the political opposition, President Ramotar said he wasn’t too sure about what they wanted, “because sometimes they want elections, then when you call elections, they don’t want elections, but they have to face the music anyhow. We all have to face it”.
The president will be leading his party’s campaign as it seeks another term in office in an effort to continue Guyana’s developmental progress.
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