Former Health Minister Dr Leslie Ramsammy has dismissed claims by the APNU-AFC and several smaller political parties that the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) Government called early elections to gain an unfair advantage.
Dr Ramsammy described the allegations as not only misleading but also fundamentally dishonest. He was responding to criticisms made by leaders of various parties—including Opposition Leader and PNCR Leader Aubrey Norton—who suggested that the timing of the elections caught them off guard and hampered their preparation, including the procurement of campaign materials.
Clarifying the constitutional requirements, Dr Ramsammy explained that the 12th Parliament commenced on 1 September 2020, which constitutionally mandates that elections must be held no later than five years after—by 1 September 2025. He noted that the Constitution also allows a three-month grace period, giving the President the authority to set a date between 1 September and 1 December 2025.
“This timeline has been known since September 1, 2020,” Ramsammy emphasised, stating that unless the President opted for a snap election prior to September 1, the current window for general elections should not come as a surprise to any political party.
He added that the PPP/C Government has honoured its commitment to hold elections within the constitutional timeframe, countering any suggestions of manipulation or surprise tactics. According to Dr Ramsammy, had the President dissolved Parliament earlier and called elections well before the constitutional deadline, the opposition’s concerns might have held merit.
He also criticised the opposition’s lack of readiness, suggesting that their failure to adequately prepare for an election that was constitutionally due reflects poorly on their capacity to govern.
