‘National Elections May 11th 2015’: The Violet Finger Revolution’

I find myself in the midst of numerous conversations on the watershed moment that occurred three years ago, the May 11th 2015 National elections. I have consistently argued one thing, we needed to breathe and this was achieved when H.E David Arthur Granger lifted his hands to take the oath of office on May 16th 2015 at Parliament Buildings.

I have no hesitation when referring to this development as a revolution, in spite of the fact that it might not meet the textbook definition of a revolution.

However, it was so improbable and consequential, I say revolution. In the context of 28 years of catastrophic monolithic rule, the May 11th 2015 national elections represented the beginning of the end of the bleeding, the rape and the pillage. Something had to be done and it had to be done quickly. It is in that context, improbable alliances had to be forged and implausible political deal making had to be executed.

Every five years, democracy allows citizens to go to polling stations and vote. When that process is completed, you are required to dip your right index finger in electoral ink or indelible ink which firstly creates a violet color and eventually a brown permanent stain. This process is designed to prevent electoral fraud. On May 11th 2015, violet fingers were everywhere in Guyana. In every region, something was happening that was clearly huge and suggested that these elections would produce earth shattering results.

The names of colors have always guided the titles given to many revolutions: The Carnation Revolution (Portugal: 1974), Yellow Revolution (Phillipines:1986), The Velvet Revolution (Czech Republic: 1989), The Rose Revolution (2003), Orange Revolution (Ukraine:2004), The Purple Revolution (2005), The Tulip Revolution (Krygyzstan: 2005), The Cedar Revolution (Lebanon:2005), The Blue Revolution (2005), The Saffron Revolution (Myanmar: 2007) and the Green Revolution (Iran, 2009).

A cursory glance at Guyana during the month of May 2015 would certainly spur the enquiring mind to ask why the writer has not coined the phrase, ‘The Green and Yellow Revolution’. The usage of ‘The Violet Finger Revolution’ seems more fitting in my estimation. Reason being, prior to May 11th 2015, the idea or thought of the fall of the People’s Progressive (PPP) was unthinkable, most walked to the ballot boxes with heavy feet, in compete disbelief that they could defeat the politics of ‘we have the numbers’ in a heavily polarized society.

On the day of May 11th 2015, when violet fingers were seen everywhere at every turn, belief crept in and it became apparent that indeed a revolution was imminent, hence the preferred title.

It is too early to assess the political, social and economic impact of May 11th 2015 Guyana elections. It is safe to make the mundane and ordinary assessments. One assessment that ought to be inescapable was that people just simply needed to breathe and take a break from intense destructive leadership. What was immediately known and can be assessed is the fact that the carnage came to a screeching halt once a new government was legally in place. This was a result of the massive turnout of 71.5% of the electorate.

Villagers who could not get access to equipment that was expected to serve the entire community but was in the hands of the ruling party’s supporters, came out to produce their violet fingers. Businessmen who did not contribute to the ruling party’s coffers and were pressured by the tax agency, emerged from the polling booths with violet fingers.

Villagers who were denied their land titles because the ruling party had earmarked their community to be transformed into a gated community to be handed over to their business friends, proudly displayed their violet fingers on May 11th 2015.

Mothers who lost their children due to wanton extrajudicial killings, could not waste this opportunity to have their fingers covered in electoral ink. Public servants who have been in the Public

Service for ages but could have experienced mobility in the system because they did conform to the whims and fancies of the ruling party, woke up early on that historical day to vote and proudly displayed their violet fingers. Law abiding citizens who could not get justice from the corrupt court system, were adamant to get their fingers stained. Change became a matter of necessity.

May 11th 2015 will be forever etched on the minds of Guyanese as the day when national interest took priority over blind loyalty and produced the Violet Finger Revolution. The only caveat that must not be ignored three years on is that people who the revolution swept from power are still hanging around. Our work might not be done.

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