Dear Editor

THE headline, “PSC urges GECOM chair to assure nation about preparedness to hold elections” in the Guyana Chronicle of January, 17, is about contents that lay bare the naked indecency of this vested interest organization, the Private Sector Commission (PSC), in clamouring for elections to be held, in the constitutional time frame relative to the aftermath of the results of the now infamous no- confidence motion, tabled by the PPP/C in what is now being proven as treacherous circumstances.

Of course, this organisation desires most dearly a return to the status quo of the PPP/C, which doled out generous tax concessions, which a poor country like ours could not have afforded, and waivers which in the main were not used for the purpose as requested, as subsequently revealed by the Guyana Revenue Authority investigative checks, from 2015 onwards.

The new dispensation would have brought such executive lawlessness, which denied the treasury much-needed revenue, to an end, apart from clamping down on the tax dodgers which had been one of the chief features of the criminalized state that existed. This category enjoyed a field day.

Simply put, it has a score to settle with the current government for halting its many illegalities. Sections of it had been clearly complicit in the foreign currency plot against the state, by deliberately hoarding this key finance. It was a plan, with political backing and support, that had been designed to destabilize the national economy, and in the process embarrass the government.

It brought an unmistakable partisan agenda to its criticisms of the government, particularly illustrated during the helmsmanship of a particular captain of industry. This observation had been highlighted by another very high-profiled commercial house, whose leader criticised the approach as “political’’.

Therefore, its pretence of urgent concern for the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) to assure the nation about its readiness for national and regional elections, is about adding one more of the frenetic voices that would have been responsible for the unnecessary charged atmosphere that prevailed in the nation after the immediacy of the motion.
Of course, it is GECOM that must be able to pronounce on readiness or not for the polls, and must be able to verify this certainty or not of the premier constitutional event, without being influenced by such incessant and unfair clamour that spouts from such national bodies as the PSC, or both direct and indirect pressure from the phalanx of groups that are salivating at the prospect of the flow of oil in 2020. It must not be rushed into any premature decision because of some of the unholy and greedy voices whose intent in what has been unfolding since Dec. 21, have been exposed.

In fact, there is a truth and reality that is conveniently absent from the opportunists and devious crescendo that have been sounded like righteous decibels: GECOM has been placed in a position because of what has been clearly a raid on democracy in this country, for reasons which even the man in the street, has comprehended to be treacherous in its construct and, therefore, totally unnecessary.

This means placing GECOM in the very challenging and unfair situation because of the power-hungry and lustful grabbers of power. Crucially, and most important, there has to be, among other vital prerequisites, a new round of voter registration so as to occasion a new voters list, something about which opposition leader Bharat Jagdeo had already raised hackles. Of course, the court will rule on the challenges before it; but there has to be a proper voter’s list, properly prepared. There must be no short cut to this critical essential of eligible citizens, as yet unregistered, being entitled to do so, for exercising of the franchise of the democratic vote.

The PSC and its political allies are well advised that GECOM must not be harried by their deception and less than convincing pitch. Let this constitutional body be allowed to deliver a state of proper readiness for credible elections. It is its mandate to do so.
Regards
Earl Hamilton