The Right Contest

THE Constitution of Guyana makes provision for any individual desirous of contesting for political office to so do, provided of course that he or she meets the eligibility criteria. This is good for our political health, as it allows for greater choice by the electorate as to who is best suitable to lead the country for a constitutionally defined period, in Guyana’s case a five-year period.

Elections are constitutionally due this year and there is already much speculation as to likely candidates for the highest political office in the land, namely, the Executive President. Without a doubt, the temptation to become President can be alluring. History has recorded several politicians who ran for office but failed to make any impact on the electorate. Before 1964, a candidate for elected office was required to make a monetary deposit which was redeemable only after the candidate garnered a sufficient number of votes considered significant by the elections body.

Elections, it must be said, are no laughing matter. They are not for those whose only interest is to catapult themselves into the national limelight. It requires political maturity, vision and perhaps more importantly, high levels of commitment and dedication to the national cause.

It is still too early to know who are the likely presidential candidates in the upcoming national poll. What is however clear is that the incumbent President, Dr Mohamed Irfaan Ali is the leading contender after having had a successful run since his inauguration in August 2020.

President Ali has done an excellent job in reaching out to the Guyanese people across the ethnic and political spectrum in Guyana. Already, there are strong indications of cross-over support among opposition members and supporters not only at the grassroots level, but also at the leadership level. This is a worrying development from the standpoint of the main political opposition, which continues to experience fissures at the leadership level.
The ongoing development and progress by the PPP/C administration is touching the lives of Guyanese in deeply profound ways. The country is experiencing its best moment from a developmental perspective. The Guyana economy has recorded unprecedented levels of economic growth and social progress. This in turn has resulted in political capital in favour of the ruling PPP/C administration.

It is against the foregoing background that the forthcoming national elections have to be seen. The PPP/C administration clearly has momentum on its side. Both President Ali and Vice-President Dr. Bharrat Jagdeo have expressed confidence in the PPP/C administration being returned to office in the forthcoming elections.

In the meantime, speculations as to likely presidential candidates for the poll continue. As noted by PPP General Secretary Dr Jagdeo, those who put forward their candidature must be prepared to face the scrutiny of the electorate. President Ali has demonstrated that he has what it takes to be a national and international statesman. Can the same be said of the others? The electorate will have the final say.

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