THE announcement that former US President Jimmy Carter would lead a team to observe the elections in Guyana on May 11 is most re-assuring.The Carter Centre was instrumental in the restoration of democracy in Guyana and there are many who felt that were it not for the actual presence of President Carter on elections day in the elections of October 5, 1992, the elections would have once again been rigged in favour of the PNC.

President Carter and his team must be commended for the role they have played in the restoration of democratic rule, not only in Guyana, but the world at large.

This is why their presence in Guyana on elections day is so important in terms of confidence building and enhancing the credibility and integrity of the electoral processes.

President Donald Ramotar has taken a commendable step in inviting the Carter Centre and other observer missions to monitor the elections. This will serve as a deterrent for those who may be inclined to reject the will of the electorate as happened in previous elections.

It will be recalled that, in the 1997 elections, the PPP was forced to give up two years of its elected mandate, even though it won the largest margin of victory due to post-election violence and disturbances unleashed by the PNC.

What was even more disturbing was the fact that the elections were declared free and fair by all local and overseas observers. The Carter Centre was not present at that election, but there were several others reputable missions drawn from CARICOM, the OAS and the European Union.

The will of the majority must be respected and any departure from this time-honoured and universal norm is fraught with danger.

HYDAR ALLY