WE recall the great shouts of objections that had accompanied President David Granger’s decision to appoint retired Justice James Patterson to the important constitutional position of Chairman of the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM). More than that, it was an announcement that had evoked instant accusations against the coalition government that the manner of Patterson’s appointment was the prelude to its preparations for rigging the 2020 constitutionally due national and regional elections. This was followed by a slew of publicly aired viewpoints, via the media, about a government that had begun to subvert the democratic process, and well on the way towards authoritarian rule. It still has not materialised.

Of course, it was an opposition-led campaign and many conjectures were not only found to be unfair and utterly baseless, given the quality of the lists for proposed GECOM chairperson that had been submitted to President Granger for his consideration; but which when challenged at both the High Court and the Court of Appeal , found that his decision was made within the ambit of the constitution.

Unsatisfied with an unfair accusation that had suffered judicial defeat, the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) continued their extended attacks, this time in the form of allegations of an electoral body that had an ethnic composition in favour of African Guyanese being employed, and that this lent towards conclusion of suspicion and unreliability of delivering an election result which would be transparent, free and fair.

Again, such accusations were not only baseless and unfounded, but nakedly hollow, and unfair, as this was the same constitutional body that had managed so many national elections when the PPP/C had been declared the winner.

But it was a strategy, well-orchestrated, that commenced the unfair defaming of an elected government, from its inception of taking office. Of course, like all governments, the coalition has had its share of missteps and challenges from rebuilding a country that had sunk to abysmal depths of socio-economic degradation.

However, despite its many battles against grave inherited ills such as endemic corruption inclusive of money laundering, there is an unmistakable newness that has been pervasive about its governance. And this begins with a state media that is quite the opposite of what formerly had been the experience prior to May, 2015. Not only are there correspondence and articles that chide the government on issues of the day, but that also these criticisms are made by friends and supporters of the coalition. Such views also are reported in other sections of the media, without anyone being sued, harassed, jailed or victimised in any manner.

Further, there are no acerbic or nasty responses to criticisms, as were those that used to emanate from the former PPP/C administration whenever it faced just criticism. Significant, also, is the fact that the Rule of Law is being adhered to: there are no extra judicial killings; standard operational procedures are in the main being observed by law enforcement; citizens who may be suspects of the law, are being treated as persons with rights, rather than being brutalised for information; the judiciary is now functioning as a truly independent institution, with decisions now even made against the state, which had been unheard of during the tenure of the PPP/C government.

In other words, freedom reigns in this land as never before; so much so, that government has been able to ensure that constitutional guarantees are kept, namely, the holding of two consecutive Local Government Elections in the stipulated time frame. This is a seminal first, since Independence.

Even more pivotal is the fact, that these elections were free and fair, and without any controversy, thus nailing the big lie and unsubstantiated speculation of intention to rig by sections of the private media and, of course, the political opposition.

One must also, refer to the recent no-confidence motion which was a historical first in our nation. There were no hindrances or barriers placed in its way of being debated in the House. And this was quite the opposite to the then PPP/C government, against which a similar parliamentary action had been taken, but decided to prorogue parliament rather than debate the merits of such a parliamentary challenge.

Guyana is now a democracy, which has been breathing deep breaths of real freedom, with the rights of citizens restored and respected; and with constitutional freedoms underpinning these democratic principles. It is because of the latter, that many of its achievements, as outlined above, have been possible since the dawn of May, 2015.