Dear Editor,
WHILE awaiting the official results for the 2006 Regional and General Elections, in a bid to
ensure that peace and security prevailed in Guyana, “security forces have been deployed
strategically in order to suppress any rumours and attempts to create doubts of uncertainty in the minds of the people.” This was according to People’s Progressive Party/Civic General
Secretary Donald Ramotar at a press conference held at Freedom House, the party’s
headquarters, back in 2006.

Mr Ramotar told media operatives that while the PPP/C has had its compilations of the results based on statement of polls, it will continue to rely on the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) to be the only formal source of the results. As such, Ramotar urged the public on behalf of the PPP/C to ignore rumours which could have an adverse effect on the society as a whole. He notes that Guyana has been able to have elections that have been described as one of very high standards by all observer groups.

Mr Ramotar was keen to implore the public to rely on GECOM as the only official source of information and to feel reassured by the presence of observers, local and international, about the quality of the process.

The general secretary said that during the campaign, political parties presented themselves
as only interested in the welfare of the people and now have an opportunity to demonstrate
their commitment to Guyanese and Guyana. He added that political parties have participated under the same rules and Guyana placed its faith in the independent work of GECOM. It would be great if Mr Ramotar and his party can adhere to the admonishments of 2006.

Those glowing sentiments about GECOM’s independence ceased after the 2011 Regional and General Elections, when the PPP/C lost its majority in the National Assembly. Thanks to
Commissioner Vincent Alexander’s vigilance over the then Chief Elections Officer Gocool
Boodoo, who was using the now known shenanigans to arrive at the final results.

The ignominious basking of GECOM officials continued after the 2015 Regional and General
Elections, now the opposition leader is questioning the decisions of the learned retired Justice Madame Claudette Singh.

Before 2011, the PPP/C with Gocool Boodoo as CEO and Doodnauth Singh and Dr Steve
Surujbally as chairmen, were never critical of GECOM and its secretariat. One wonders what is responsible for the change of heart and this seeming lack of faith in the institution in which they they had so much confidence.

The public could be very assured that Madame retired Justice Claudette Singh will never allow the commission she presently leads to run off elections, unless the highest possible standards are adhered to in the conduct of the polls.. The PPP/C accepted the 2006 Regional and General Elections results, although the late Dr Haslyn Parris resigned before those results were announced and the only opposition commissioners were the late Robert Williams and the late Lloyd Joseph.

Could the electorate take anything light from the former chairman Dr Steve Surjubally? He
was at the helm of those 2006 elections. The orchestrated campaign by Jagdeo, Ramotar and the PPP/C to descredit retired Justice Singh and the attacks on CEO Keith Lowenfield for failing to accept UNDP donor help must be seen as part of the PPP/C’s ploy of misinformation.

For the record, the CEO arrived at the commissioner in 2000 as the logistics manager and is cognisant of the role Arnold Depoo of the famous Depoo brothers played as a consultant acquired by the UNDP.

It is important that we learn from our mistakes of the past. Lowenfield knows why he must be cautious.

Yours faithfully,
George Williams