TODAY is October 5, the anniversary of the first legal, national elections held in 1992 since 1964. There is a common term used in politics, academia, literature, and journalism. It goes like this – “witness to history.” People who saw momentous events in their lifetime like to use that term. I repeat for emphasis – “witness to history.”

I am a witness to historical events surrounding fraudulent national elections from 1968 when I was a polling agent for the PPP at St. Thomas Moore Primary School on D’Urban Street, Wortmanville. I lived next to the school. 1968 was the defining moment in my life. After witnessing the destruction of the right to vote in that school and how I was treated by polling officials, I was never the same person ever again.
1968 changed my life forever. I was just 17 years of age, thus I have chalked up an obscure piece of history. I am perhaps the youngest person in history anywhere in the world to be an official election agent for a contesting party. What I saw in that school led me to a world of politics and that world has stayed with me and will remain with me until I go to my final reward.

I have been a witness to history in 1968, 1973, 1978, 1980, 1985 and 1992. All those elections from 1968 were rigged, including the 1978 referendum to change the pre-Independence constitution. October 5, 1992, was a long battle to get there. It was a journey of 24 years in which bravery mingled with tragedy. But October 5, 1992 came but almost didn’t come.

There is a part of the October 5 saga that has only been recounted by two books. In part 2 of his autobiography, “Reaching for the Stars,” Yesu Persaud has a few pages on October 5 and how it was almost derailed. See pages 190-194. However, there is no better account of the near failure of October 5, than Father Andrew Morison’s magnum opus, “Justice: The Struggle for Democracy in Guyana, 1952-1992.”

I will quote the relevant section of Persaud’s autobiography, then go on to Father’s book. Persaud noted: “At around 11:45, all hell broke loose in front of the command Centre of the Elections Commission on Croal Street and Sendall Place. A large crowd had gathered… I came out to talk to David Petersen, head of the Commonwealth Team of Observers and we found ourselves in the midst of this riotous crowd, many of whom seemed prepared to burn the building to the ground with all those in it.”
Here is page 395 of Father’s great volume on Guyana: “Another crisis occurred four days before election time. At an emergency meeting held at the home of the UNDP representative, Mr. Collins (GECOM chairman) made the shocking announcement that he doubted very much the elections could go

forward on October 5. The time when the Elections came nearest to be scrapped was on Election Day itself.” Father Morrison’s book on October 5 is fantastic reading and for me will remain one of the best books written on Guyana.
Guyana survived October 5, and the results gave the PPP victory, but it was a long journey in which so many people made gargantuan sacrifices over decades to get Guyana over the line. I will always evoke anger when certain names come up because those who either supported or were reticent on the attempts to destroy the symbolism and legacy of October 5 during the March 2020 election have become unhistorical and have lost their right to be given historical recognition.

I say this because we were all part of a never-ending flight to get to the destination of the right to vote and have that vote counted. It was not the first rigged poll in 1968. It happened over and over and those who stayed became depressed and those who left Guyana were equally depressed.

Eventually, October 5th came and Guyana triumphed. Those memories from 1968 to 1992 should have become part of our psyche, so when the rigging began on Tuesday March 3, 2020, we should have shuddered and become galvanised. I will never understand (and the comprehension will forever elude me) as to how we could have stood side by side from 1968 and with blood, sweat, and tears fought for free and fair election, achieve it on October 5, 1992 and from March to July in 2020 simply look the meaning of life and insult it by betraying our country and also history and philosophy. October 5, 1992, is a moment this nation must always cherish.

DISCLAIMER: The views and opinions expressed in this column are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the Guyana National Newspapers Limited.