GUYANA is a unique country in many ways and there are very few such countries on the globe. Guyana is a multi-ethnic, multi-cultural and multi-religious country.

Guyana is indeed a beautiful flower garden. All this holds true until the issue of elections comes around,an integral part of the proper functioning of any democracy because it is at these times our beautiful garden always comes under the threat of very dangerous weeds.
Notwithstanding the fact that elections are not around the corner, of recent some very ugly and dangerous weeds have been flourishing in our garden.  Is it a result of climate change? But it is certainly our political climate. These dangerous weeds are threatening the very existence of our beautiful garden called Guyana.
It is no secret that the PNC since its formation has thrived and continues to thrive on the ethnic division of our people. The PNC through its racial politics has fractured this nation, the consequences of which we are still dealing with although the PPP/C has made great progress at reconciling our people. Now the PNC’s APNU and its clone the AFC, are channelling all their energies towards undoing all the progress this nation has made in healing the wounds of the PNC’s era.
It is therefore, with great alarm that of recent I have observed that APNU and the AFC have turned their attention to the Guyana Elections Commission and in particular its Chief Elections Officer, Mr. Gocool Boodhoo.
The PNC’s APNU and its clone the AFC have been stirring up racial sentiments on the grounds that Mr Boodhoo is not independent and is biased towards the PPP because he is an Indian.
Now in every modern democracy, as in Guyana, there is an independent body that is responsible for the conduct of national elections. In Guyana that institution is called the Guyana Elections Commission. The importance of this institution can never be underestimated. Its independence is critical for the preservation of peace and stability.
We all know from experience and history what happened to Guyana under the PNC when the Guyana Elections Commission was directed by Congress Place.
The PNC’s APNU and its clone the AFC have launched a relentless and dirty campaign against the Chief Elections Officer, Mr. Gocool Boodhoo, calling for his contract not to be renewed. What is the reason? He is an Indian and as such he is biased towards the PPP. The PNC’s APNU and its clone the AFC need to do better than that if they have any self respect or self-worth.
Mr.  Boodhoo has presided over three general elections in Guyana, all observed by  several reputable international organizations, none of which has ever raised any doubt about the integrity of the elections or that of Mr. Gocool Boodhoo.
The PNC’s APNU and its clone the AFC, cannot produce any credible evidence to support their claim that Mr. Boodhoo is not independent. Is it not true then that Mr. Boodhoo is being targeted because of his ethnicity? The logic of the PNC’s APNU and its clone the AFC, is that Mr. Boodhoo is an Indian and that is enough evidence of compromised integrity. So what do we have? This a clear attempt by the opposition to conduct ethnic cleansing of the Guyana Elections Commission. But while Mr. Boodhoo is being targeted by The PNC’s APNU and its clone the AFC because of his ethnicity, the PPP has not made an issue of the fact that approximately 95% of the Guyana Elections Commission is of one ethnicity, the one that predominantly supports the PNC. And what about the Deputy Chief Elections Officer, Mr. Calvin Benn, whose involvement in the day-to-day operations of the Commission is no less than that of Mr.  Boodhoo? Has the PPP been on any public campaign to remove him? NO, although the PPP at times had serious issues with him.  The PPP is of the firm belief that it is professionalism, independence and integrity, not ethnicity that matters.
I am therefore calling upon all peace-loving Guyanese who care about and nurture this beautiful and delicate garden called Guyana to stop sitting idly by and allowing the perpetuation of racial division among us by the PNC’s APNU and its clone the AFC, using Mr.  Boodhoo as the scapegoat.
Mr. Gocool Boodhoo has served his country with distinction. His integrity and reputation as an independent and competent public functionary remains untarnished. He has been man enough to accept mistakes when made. His role in maintaining the integrity, professionalism and independence of the Guyana Elections Commission, which is dominated by PNC supporters and sympathisers is second to none and can never be underestimated. It is this independence and professionalism that has been the precursor of the successes of this nation and every successful Guyanese.
Anyone who knows about the checks and balances in place at GECOM with respect to the calculation of the allocation of seats, would know that it was impossible for Mr.  Boodhoo’s mistake to have gone unnoticed.
I am also sure that the fact that both the APNU and AFC have been applying tremendous pressure on Mr. Boodhoo  to declare the results of the elections even before tabulation of the results was completed, played no small role in him making the mistake for which  they now want to hang him. How hypocritical!
It is no secret that until recently both APNU and the AFC have been calling for Dr. Surujbally’s head also. It therefore boggles the mind as to why they stopped demanding his head and who now seems to be supporting them in demanding Mr. Boodhoo’s head.
Has there been another secret deal between Dr. Surujbally, APNU and the AFC to give them Mr. Boodhoo’s head on a platter to save himself from ethnic cleansing?
I therefore call on all Guyanese to raise their voices against this assault by the Opposition on the Chief Elections Officer or Guyana will descend once again into the 1960s. I am also calling on civil society, International Organisations and foreign missions to take note of the Opposition’s assault on GECOM.