APNU protests outside State House

Last Updated on Sunday, 21 September 2014, 22:57 by GxMedia

At least 50 members and supporters of A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) Sunday staged a candlelight vigil outside State House, the official residence of President Donald Ramotar, to press demands for local government elections.

After several rounds of walking along Main Street near the gate to the residence, a senior police officer told APNU member James Bond that the group should use the Main Street Avenue instead. They complied in the interest of road safety.

They then gathered in the avenue for quite a long time singing and calling for local government elections before walking across to opposite Prime Minister Samuel Hinds’ official residence.

The President and First Lady, Deolatchmie Ramotar are in New York for the United Nations General Assembly and meetings with Guyanese living there.

The President has since formally told Opposition Leader David Granger that he is willing to meet with the opposition to discuss their concerns.

Granger’s APNU has resorted to protests after his September 15 ultimatum for the President to name a date local government elections last held in 1994.

Maintaining that the Constitution provides for the holding of local polls every three years, the Opposition Leader has also called on the President to issue the Commencement Order for the Local Government Commission Act and take steps for an un-assented controversial local government bill to be returned to the opposition-controlled 65-seat National Assembly.