AFTER the 2020 elections, there have been a lot of discussion and talk about electoral reform and its role in strengthening Guyana’s democratic processes. Even before then, it was agreed, in principle, that every opportunity would be welcomed, explored and if the conditions exist, then implemented.

The idea was to achieve, basically, some form of “change in electoral systems to improve how public desires are expressed in election results”. This would naturally include changing the governance arrangements that relate to electoral constituencies and election district borders, ballot design and voting equipment, and the use of scrutineering (election monitoring by candidates, political parties, etc.)

While the government and opposition must play a fundamental role in the reforms process, there is a civil society component. Understanding that dynamic, the International Republican Institute has no doubt framed its electoral reforms project to strengthen the areas where the government and opposition need much resources and help to get the job done.

It, therefore, has identified the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM), the Attorney-General’s Chambers and Guyanese CSOs who will collaboratively consolidate and improve local electoral and constitutional law knowledge, establish an internal timeline to address electoral reform, improve collaboration for joint advocacy actions, and prioritise electoral and constitutional law issues while promoting reform through citizen engagement.

Attorney General Anil Nandlall, after being briefed about the project, its timeliness as well as outcomes, has given it his support. His thinking is that these reforms will go hand in hand with those that President Irfaan Ali committed to publicly, and the plethora of investigations that is being done or will be done covering the March 2, 2020 elections process right-up to the declaration. After all, the President seems adamant in his quest to have constitutional reform and save the integrity of democratic organisations from being unnecessarily questioned.

But the Opposition Leader, Joseph Harmon, appears to be suspicious about the US-supported project. He has since asked for a “full disclosure” because the project has caused “considerable unease and anxiety” among his supporters. Also, Harmon does not believe there was “consultation” with him or combined opposition.

Similarly, a meeting to be briefed on the project was thwarted at GECOM on Tuesday with the opposition commissioners saying unless GECOM gets approval from both the opposition and the government, or the parliamentary Constitutional Reform Committee, they will oppose it.

Now, enter the Guyana Human Right Association (GHRA) with its condemnation of the project. It said the IRI was a “bizarre choice” and, given its leadership, could not be trusted. Arguing that “Guyanese have nothing to learn from an institution whose parent body is a leading influence in global fascism”, it noted the timing of the project as “wrong”, the implementing agency as “unacceptable” and labelled the preparatory work as “having not yet begun”.

The meat of the matter is more than meets the eye.
Firstly, it would appear that the opposition wants to play a game of Chinese Checkers with the government and people. It isn’t about “consultations”. Though the IRI should accede to their request for more information, the opposition wants to stall the project. It is clear that they don’t trust the US and their intentions with reforming the electoral process. Also, they don’t have the confidence in the Guyanese people to do what they think is right for themselves and Guyana.

While the consultation process is indeed ideal to ensuring good governance, Guyanese must not lose sight of the facts that these same politicians are the ones who tried to steal the election last year causing its true results to be delayed for five months. Then they are part of perpetuating the ‘Big lie’ of the election being stolen from them, without proof. How else can you explain them failing in every court of Law to produce the evidence and their SoPs publicly?

This behaviour is similar to riggers to be consulted in the proposed electoral reforms as akin to intended inmates of a penitentiary demanding to be consulted in the security features that will inhere in the construction of that penitentiary.

Secondly, they believe the PPP has smartly crafted them into a new coil just like they did to the PPP in the lead-up to 2015. Do you remember the “Vote Like a Boss” campaign in the run-up to the 2015 elections? Do you know it was run and funded by the very IRI which the APNU+AFC had no issues with? Do you know it received their support back then? Do you see how dishonest and duplicitous the APNU+AFC and their surrogates are?

The reasons proffered by the likes of Vincent Alexander are comical and hold no weight in the minds of rationale thinkers. It is buffoonery at best. GECOM should urgently listen and be briefed on what the IRI intends to do in terms of electoral reforms in Guyana. GECOM will get a helping hand as it tries to navigate the muddy waters of rebuilding the electoral confidence and its image in lead up to local government polls this year.

And finally, GHRA has woken from its almost 5-year slumber to criticise this IRI project. But why doesn’t the GHRA have the same confidence it did in 2015 in the IRI? While Guyana was fighting off the threats to its freedom and democracy, the GHRA was sleeping like a toothless puddle. Who are the true principals, authors and thinkers at work behinds this very partisan entity? The position and arguments of GHRA should be cast aside or dismissed. Let it continue to sleep!

The IRI-funded project is good and must not be sacrificed at the altar of political buffoonery. If the opposition opposes electoral reform then there must be a solid reason behind it. The truth will come out as clear as day.