Jagdeo denies plans to remain in office

Guyanese President Bharrat Jagdeo has dismissed as "utter rubbish" opposition claims that his government is fostering unrest in Guyana in order to allow him to remain in office despite the constitutional requirement that he steps down after two consecutive terms.

"I'm not interested in delaying any election," Jagdeo told a news conference, adding that the elections would take place by the constitutional due date of December 2011.

"This is election-year, so there will be no attempt on the part of me or my Government to delay these elections," he said.

His denial comes less than a day after the Press and Publicity Office of the Prime Minister dismissed a suggestion by the leader of the main opposition People's National Congress Reform (PNCR) Robert Corbin that the PNCR is aware of the efforts by the head of state to find a way of remaining in Office beyond the constitutional requirement.

But Jagdeo dismissed the claim and challenged the Opposition Leader to produce the evidence that he is seeking to remain in office.

"Corbin will continue to lose his credibility, if he cannot provide the names of the persons from whom I sought legal advice on remaining in office." Jagdeo said.

President Jagdeo noted that he has on several occasions in the past made it clear that he would not be seeking a third consecutive term in office.

He recalled that, in his New Year's address to the nation, he spoke about Guyana solidifying its democratic traditions and processes this year.

Jagdeo told reporters that the opposition parties were fearful that although there is a constitutional limit to two successive terms, he would engineer a means to contest the polls.

"I think it is a morbid, mortal fear on the part of the likes of Ramjattan and the others that I may want to contest again because he is afraid of that, they are worried about that," he said.

The PNCR had accused government of attempting to provoke unrest by, among other things, smashing vendors' stalls around the Stabroek Market.

But Jagdeo has warned that anyone seeking to cause unrest and hate by race and religion would face the full brunt of the security forces.

"The security forces - the police and the army - they have my command, my instruction that we will deal with any act of violence and we will go wherever the trail leads us even if it leads to politicians," he said.

- CMC