GUYANA has healthy bilateral relationships with countries from across the world, most of whom share a common interest with this South American nation.

One such bilateral partner is the United Kingdom (UK), previously the colonial masters of this ‘Land of El Dorado’.

Diplomatic spats between Guyana and its bilateral partners are not uncommon; and, as such, there was a bit of expected trepidation on the part of some in society during and after the fallout between then British High Commissioner to Guyana, Mr Andrew Ayre, and the Guyana Government over President Donald Ramotar’s decision to Prorogue Parliament.

Ayre, for his part, was accused of mingling in the affairs of a sovereign state when he called on President Ramotar to essentially reverse his decision to prorogue the legislative arm of the Guyana Government.

TOPICAL
Ayre’s sojourn in Guyana has since ended, and now taking up the diplomatic position as lead British Emissary to Guyana is Mr. Gregory Quinn. He has been in Guyana for just about two months now, and this past week he sat with members of the local media corps as part of a meet-and-greet exercise and to discuss topical issues.

Ayre’s departure came during the prorogation of Parliament, and his successor, Quinn, takes up his diplomatic posting at yet another crucial point in Guyana’s social workings, namely premature Regional and General Elections.

Having praised Guyanese for his first-hand experience of their legendary and world renowned hospitality, the diplomat was not spared pointed questions on the imminent elections, his and his government’s proposed role, his envisioned relationship with whichever government takes office following the May 11 national decision, and a host of other issues, including the Guyana/Venezuela territory dispute.

The newly installed straight-talking British Diplomatic quickly asserted his distinction from Ayre. He quickly pointed out that whatever exchange of words had occurred between his predecessor and Government has had absolutely no negative impact on his transition to Guyana.

“I haven’t seen any impact on my ability to do my job as a result of what happened with my predecessor,” Quinn told the media representatives.

This, he said, is true from both aisles of the local political divide. According to the newly installed diplomat, “Andrew was Andrew; I’m not Andrew, I do things in a different way.”

15 DAYS
On the matter of the elections, scheduled to be held in the next 15 days, Quinn conceded that ahead of his arrival in Guyana, the initial priority for him was always going to be the elections.

Quinn told members of the local media corps that, from a British perspective: “The fundamental thing for us is to ensure that the elections are free, fair, transparent, and accurately represent the views of the electorate in this country.”

He said that at the end of the day, people must be able to stand up and “feel that they have had the opportunity to cast their vote for the person they want to vote for, without any hindrance.”

Quinn explained that this is the overriding goal “of what we all want to see”; the international observers “and the party themselves.”

Meeting with members of the media at his official residence in Georgetown’s upscale Bel Air Gardens, Quinn sought to reaffirm that, as it relates to “what we can actually do…it’s encouraging people to ensure that there is an atmosphere that allows you or your brother or sister to feel that they can have that free and fair vote.”

The ideal atmosphere surrounding the elections, Quinn opined, should be one in which there is an absence of intimidation and restrictions accompanying that feeling of having a free and fair vote.

It is in this context that the British High Commissioner advocated caution in the language currently being used on the campaign trail by members of the contesting political parties.

“I think everybody, regardless of who they represent —- and we have been saying this to everybody —- needs to avoid any inflammatory or any provocative language,” Quinn said candidly.

CONDUCIVE LANGUAGE
Shying away from any specific examples, Quinn said both of the main contenders in the 2015 political race have been guilty of using language not conducive “to a proper election campaign.”

The British team of observers, Quinn said, will not be focusing on campaign financing, but would be paying attention to issues such as equitable access to the media.

“What we want to try and ensure is, for example, (that) the parties have got equal access to the media,” Quinn disclosed.

He pointed out, however, that fundamentally, the British Envoy cannot force any media house into giving equitable access to any of the political parties.

“We can encourage… Everybody has agreed that what we want to see is free and fair elections, where everybody gets the right to cast the vote the way they want to vote.”

During his interaction with members of the local media corps, the British High Commissioner also said that one of the ways to ensuring free and fair elections “is to ensure that everybody gets the information that they have; and one of the ways to do that is to ensure equal access to the media.”

Quinn said, too, that another very critical facility in ensuring this surrounds the Presidential Debates.

The British Emissary said such a forum is an ideal opportunity for both of the presidential candidates “to lay out to people why they should vote for them.”

Quinn said he is quite aware of the questions surrounding the proposed debate among the Prime Ministerial Candidates; and in giving his take, he asserted: “Our view is very clear that the presidential debate should go ahead regardless.”

The debates are currently at a stalemate, with the political Opposition refusing to engage in presidential debating without first having the prime ministerial contenders square off.

Government contends that the Opposition is only looking for an opportunity to disrespect its candidate.

GECOM/MMU
Nonetheless, Quinn is of this opinion: “There is huge value for everybody — both the parties and the population — in having that debate take place.”

He said such a forum will provide an opportunity to assess the candidates based on their various proposals.

“It will be seen and carried by everyone,” Quinn said in reference to the proposed presidential debate, and he added that “both sides will have an equal opportunity to get the message across.”

On the matter of the Media Monitoring Unit (MMU), which falls under the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) and recently came in for flak from former president Bharrat Jagdeo, Quinn said: “I think the Media Monitoring Unit is doing a good job.”

Quinn also gave a ‘thumbs up’ to GECOM, saying that it is also doing a very good job. He added, “I have every faith in GECOM to deliver what they are meant to deliver, despite the pressures that they are under and the difficulties that they face.”
Written By Gary Eleazar