Dear editor,

OCTOBER 5, 2020 marks 28 years since the restoration of democratic rule to Guyana after nearly three decades of PNC authoritarian rule. Thanks to local and international pressure, Guyana was spared another episode of rigged elections which had characterised the greater part of our immediate post-independence period.

Guyana today remains a proud member of the community of democratic states. It is important that the democratic fabric of our society be preserved and consolidated. It is true that we have more work to be done in terms of inclusive and participatory democracy, especially in the context of our political and ethnic plurality. This, however, will require time and political maturity from all sides of the political spectrum.

The opposition has an obligation to play by the democratic rules and concede that it lost the March 2, 2020 general and regional elections, which was declared free and fair by local and international observers.

Interestingly, our post-independence political landscape is almost evenly divided between democratic and undemocratic rule. Guyanese are now in a better position to see what correlation exists between democracy and development.

The answer, in my view, is obvious for all to see.

Yours truly,

Hydar Ally