Dear Editor,

I READ with much consent the various articles in our reputable print media as it relates to the motions tabled for the immediate dismissal of Mr. Lowenfield, Ms. Myers, and Mr. Mingo. Having been actively involved in observing the count of the March 2020 General Elections, as well as the subsequent recount of the polls, this motion struck a chord within me, prompting me to pen this letter. On March 2, 2021, and in the ensuing months, I, along with over 200 local and international observers, was exposed to the deception and skullduggery that unfolded in what is known as the most humiliating and painful tabulation of an elections in the history of all elections. The election itself was extremely smooth, but it was during the counting that all the trickery took place. What was even more heinous was that all of this occurred in the full view of some of the most elegant and distinguished observers, both local and international.

Among the international observers were former Prime Ministers from CARICOM, the grandson of President Carter and his dynamic team at the Carter Center, and the European Union, which included Former High Commissioners from the United Kingdom, the United Nations, and other overseas observer groups. Local observers comprised members of the Private Sector Commission (PSC) and the Ethnic Relations Commission (ERC), of which only two volunteers participated. These were my colleague, Mr. Neaz Subhan, and I, the undersigned. No one else from the Ethnic Relations Commission wanted to participate. There were also representatives from the Chamber of Commerce in Guyana, various Chambers of Commerce in the United States, journalists, and concerned citizens of the Diaspora. At the time, Guyana was on the world stage, but not for the reasons we would have desired.

With the possibility of oil, our enormous natural resources, agricultural and manufacturing potentials, it was well known that whoever won these elections would wield significant influence and authority for an extended period of time. So, in the run-up to the elections, Guyana and Guyanese were living in an exciting time. We were hopeful. We were positive. However, the events that followed, as acted out by Mr. Lowenfield, Ms. Myers, and Mr. Mingo would prove otherwise. As folks across the country awoke to the reality that would haunt them for months to come, the route to development and healing changed quickly. Those who had hoped for a peaceful resolution were taken aback by the reality of life in a waking nightmare. I recall some of the citizens of this dear nation lamenting on the immense stress and anxiety that persisted in the months that ensued. They all hoped for closure. However, the shenanigans perpetrated by these elements of conspiracy within GECOM drained them immensely.

On the night of the General Elections, at about 2am, all political parties knew who had won, based on the results submitted by the Returning Officers, the various polling stations, and the regions. According to reports, there was pandemonium, depression, and a lot of tears inside the now headquarters of the Opposition. That is reasonable, as losing an election is not easy, especially when one is in power. I recall witnessing Mr. Lowenfield and his cabal’s covert attempts to disenfranchise about 200,000 people. I watched the humiliation with which individuals were handled; the lies that Mr. Lowenfield was spouting, and the obvious conspiracies in which he was involved. I remember looking at him and reading his lips. At that time, I knew he was there to defraud the true victor of their victory, which was to deny the PPP/C what they had legitimately won. He was clearly getting directions from I know who, as did everyone else. We all knew he was being directed and ordered by someone other than the Chairman, Justice Claudette Singh.

I recall Mr. Lowenfield’s sinister smile, even as his guys were involved in attempting to remove a laptop and flash drive, playing with the police and us, smiling like the devil himself. Premised by his body language, I remember asking him, “You don’t have a contingency in place?  For example, I own a security company, and I have contingencies in place in the event that certain guards do not show up. I have a system where we will have some people work through, or have one or two standbys, you don’t have that?” And his ludicrous response was, “There are times when even contingencies won’t work.” I recall the international observers who were constantly stunned, staring at each other, staring at us, and occasionally whispering. I recall certain APNU+AFC agents who were cleverly manoeuvering amongst the observers to eavesdrop on conversations. International observers were equally curious as to who these people were. I informed them that these were “agents”.  The term “Tonton Macoute” was then mentioned by one of the observers.

It is even upsetting that ‘till now, Mr. Lowenfield is of the opinion he owns the SoRs and the SoPs, and so he could provide it at his whim and fancy, even when it is required.
I recall Ms. Roxanne Myers, who had a bullish tone and was completely vile, unintelligible, harsh, and, as the words flow, even pretentious, spiteful, and nasty. One thing is certain: Her incessant excuses for delaying the recounts would always be remembered and held against her. The excuses, “someone is pregnant,” “someone has a headache” (I am referring to the Returning Officers here), and her other excuses have all been recorded. I recall her ordering us repeatedly, day in and day out, to “pick up your rubbish and leave”. Those words continue to resonate in my ears to this day. Her heinous, horrible habit of continuously using those words on some of the world’s most prominent diplomats, ambassadors, and others echoes deep within.

Yours sincerely,

Haji Dr. Roshan Khan Snr.