IN the Anglophone-Caribbean, democracy is fully embraced as a path to good governance and there are continuous efforts to strengthen and institutionalise it in member states of the regional grouping. Outside the region or further afield, democracy is overwhelmingly accepted as a model system for good governance and there are great efforts to keep it intact through the process of reform. Here in Guyana, it is no different and, given the dark period of March-August 2020 when the world witnessed the most brazen attempts in modern day to rig a national elections by elements sympathetic to the then APNU+AFC government, electoral reforms to correct systems weaknesses and to strengthen the democratic process in this nation cannot be more relevant now than at any time before. It is against this backdrop that the announcement of the International Republican Institute (IRI), acting as a coordinator with India and Canada, to reform Guyana’s election laws under a US-funded 18-month project, could not be more welcome news to those who embrace democracy.
And, of course, for anyone who follows the statements and comments of senior leaders of the APNU+AFC since the 2018 no-confidence motion, their reaction to the reforms, but more particularly, the involvement of the IRI in the process could hardly be surprising.

The APNU+AFC, which consists of several tiny parties, including the Alliance For Change (AFC), which, today, has been reduced to a shell party, is dominated by the People’s National Congress (PNC). The APNU, from all appearances, is a cover for the PNC, sheltering it from its dark past. The PNC, as it is widely known, has never won a free and fair election in Guyana and perhaps holds the unenviable record in the Caribbean as the longest squatter in government, having occupied that seat illegally for close to three decades.
Being the dominant party, it cannot be a surprise to anyone that much of the views emanating from the APNU+AFC are driven by the PNC, which has always been convenient and opportunistic. Their criticism of the IRI’s involvement in the electoral reforms stands out as another example. It should be noted that the IRI is an organisation that is not new to Guyana as it is one of several organisations that have worked to support the democratic process here. The APNU+AFC enjoyed a good relationship with the IRI during the 2011 elections, and in the 2015 elections, it supported the IRI-driven ‘Vote Like a Boss Campaign’. That campaign played an instrumental role in helping the Coalition win power, ending the People’s Progressive Party/ Civic’s (PPP/C) 23 years reign in office.

Then, the IRI was their hero – so why now the IRI has become the villain. The answer is very simple. The PNC, which is the driver of the Coalition, has never been too fond of democracy and would never hesitate to opportunistically or conveniently enter any partnership or alliance in its quest to gain power.
IRI aside, the Charrandass Persaud matter also comes to mind. It was all good and great when Persaud was singing the praises of the Coalition and drowning out the sufferings of the sugar workers who were put on the breadline when the APNU+AFC government unceremoniously closed the sugar estates.
Persaud was a hero then but became an enemy immediately when he acted in accordance with his conscience and voted against the APNU+AFC, in a bid to end the sufferings of the sugar

workers and the many ordinary Guyanese who were feeling the squeeze of burdensome taxes the Coalition introduced.
This appears to be the nature of the APNU+AFC. It always seems happy to make frolic when a situation benefits them and then cry foul when the factors of the same situation are not in their favour. It is never too late to change and it is time that they begin to act maturely, embrace and actively participate in the electoral reforms which are needed to strengthen the democratic process in Guyana. They could even advocate for other reputable bodies such Caricom and the Commonwealth to be involved in the process, but petty griping would not help their cause. It would be worthy for the principals of the Coalition to heed the advice of Khemraj Ramjattan (one of its leaders), who sees the reforms as a step in the right direction.