Dear Editor,
PLEASE permit me a space in your Newspaper to respond to a letter that was published in the Guyana Times dated August 27, 2019. Annie Baliram’s letter titled, “Demanding that Mr. Granger call elections now”, where she declares that, “The house-to-house registration only serves the purpose of enabling government to disrespect our Constitution and to trample our democracy in the most lawless and vulgar way to remain in power”.

I would like to commence by stating that the government is not facilitating the house-to-house registration, it is the GECOM which is an independent, autonomous and constitutional body conducting the house-to-house registration, legally.

In the August 14, High Court judgement, the acting Chief Justice, Roxane George-Wiltshire ruled that the ongoing house-to-house registration, being undertaken by GECOM, was within the confines of the Constitution and was therefore legal. Justice George-Wiltshire ruled that the constitution and the laws of Guyana provide for the conduct of house-to-house registration as a form of verification – a position that was argued by both the government and GECOM.

It is so disgraceful to read Ms. Baliram’s letter in the newspapers accusing the APNU/AFC government of lawlessness and vulgarity, surely this has to be a figment of her imagination because it can easily be verified which leaders display such behavior, surely not President Granger!

How can the President be accused of delaying the holding of elections despite both the PPP/C and the APNU+AFC coalition have utilised the court’s due process to validate their legal positions?

How can we respect one aspect of the law and disregard the other? The NCM is being respected however, we need to respect also that the voters’ list has expired since April 30, 2019. Hence GECOM had started the house-to-house registration process, because elections cannot be held with an expired list.

Ms. Baliram and the PPP/C should know that elections cannot be held if there is not a valid voters’ list. If they are so concerned about Guyanese and the rule-of-law, they will understand that the voters’ list is expired. So, it is the PPP/C’s duty as the parliamentary opposition to return to parliament and support the government with the two thirds majority to extend the time for the holding of elections with a credible voters list.

In closing, my fellow young Guyanese we are the majority in this country, and what we need to know that in my lifetime (I’m under 25) there has never been so many vocational training and youth empowerment programmes, and scholarships. This speaks to President Granger’s heavy focus and investment in educating youths.

I can go on to say that many improvements are happening under this four-year-old government that could not have happened in twenty-three years under the PPP/C.
Therefore, I am calling on all my Guyanese brothers and sisters to open their eyes and see the vast difference under this government.
Regards
Ceion Rollox