Tweet
General Election date impasse agitates old wounds
Thursday, 23 August 2007
A contentious stalemate over the setting of a new date for the General Election has ripped open old wounds among senior Government Ministers and Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller and prompted three Cabinet meetings in as many days.
The Cabinet ended its latest emergency session on Thursday evening.
However, this meeting, called in a bid to bring an end to the impasse, reportedy ended without a consensus.
Mrs. Simpson Miller and the Cabinet members have been wrestling since the start of the week with no end in sight to the stalemate.
Most Cabinet members are in favour of the Electoral Commission's recommendation that September 3 be established as the new date for the General Election.
But Mrs. Simpson Miller differs.
The announced postponement of the start of the new academic year also sparked a heated row in one of the earlier Cabinet meetings this week.
Mrs. Simpson Miller is reportedly of the view that the announcement by the Education Ministry was premature and served to force the Prime Minister's hand in setting the new date.
This also reportedly triggered a fiery exchange.
The Prime Minister is reportedly adamant that the election date should be set beyond September 3.
With neither side relenting, the Governor General is yet to receive the formal notice to announce a new date.
This precipitated Thursday's meeting and with the Cabinet sharply divided, the dispute which accompanied her elevation to the post of Prime Minister has resurfaced.
Thursday, 23 August 2007
A contentious stalemate over the setting of a new date for the General Election has ripped open old wounds among senior Government Ministers and Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller and prompted three Cabinet meetings in as many days.
The Cabinet ended its latest emergency session on Thursday evening.
However, this meeting, called in a bid to bring an end to the impasse, reportedy ended without a consensus.
Mrs. Simpson Miller and the Cabinet members have been wrestling since the start of the week with no end in sight to the stalemate.
Most Cabinet members are in favour of the Electoral Commission's recommendation that September 3 be established as the new date for the General Election.
But Mrs. Simpson Miller differs.
The announced postponement of the start of the new academic year also sparked a heated row in one of the earlier Cabinet meetings this week.
Mrs. Simpson Miller is reportedly of the view that the announcement by the Education Ministry was premature and served to force the Prime Minister's hand in setting the new date.
This also reportedly triggered a fiery exchange.
The Prime Minister is reportedly adamant that the election date should be set beyond September 3.
With neither side relenting, the Governor General is yet to receive the formal notice to announce a new date.
This precipitated Thursday's meeting and with the Cabinet sharply divided, the dispute which accompanied her elevation to the post of Prime Minister has resurfaced.
Comment