Dear Editor,
EASTER’S Greetings to all Guyanese! May the hope and promise of this auspicious occasion serve to inspire the necessary molding commitments that continue to harmonise unite our nation!
At the time of penning this article, it is one month since that faithful March 02, 2020 elections day, when our citizens demonstrated affirmatively against the mushrooming oppression of the previous PNC/APNU+AFC regime. Subsequently, our country became a spectacle of global focus demanding the attention of the most powerful advocates of democratic rights. The final true results were only affirmed after five gruelling months later, with the strong united front from local protectors of democracy and the help of the international community.
No doubt, the strategic and constructive leadership of the PPP/C General Secretary, Dr. Bharrat Jagdeo, together with our new President, Dr. Irfaan Ali, proved to be visionary. Guyana’s path is now clearer and Guyanese are certainly delighted, happy, and grateful for the support of the US State Department, Canada, the European Community, the Commonwealth, CARICOM, and other countries for their recognition of the 2020 elections results.
The vile nature of the PNC-led APNU+AFC cabal was on full public display as they attempted to upturn the true result of the elections. Corroborating the clandestine operations were infiltrated elements of the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) including senior administrative personnel under the control of a tainted Chief Elections Officer. The US Human Rights report addressing the matter refers to the APNU+AFC’s blatant and contemptuous refusal to accept the results of the National and Regional Elections held on the March 2, 2020.
Further, the report condemns the APNU+AFC reaction to the passing of the successful no-confidence motion and also chided the approach of the judiciary which lead to the procrastination of elections in Guyana. Matters such as these, however, were manipulated to influence the turbulent five months in which the APNU+AFC squatted in office as a de facto government. During the period, the Guyanese people had to live with serious police excessive, which led to the brutal murder of several persons. Our country became a hallow of itself under the flagrant violations but was certainly focused on having this situation resolved peacefully.
Guyana certainly set the pace regarding the peaceful approaches to struggle for free and fair elections. This, however, could not have been achieved without the tremendous support from observer missions and international organisations, and the wider diplomatic community. Certainly, the superior leadership of Dr. Bharrat Jagdeo served as a mold uniting all the forces in Guyana in the struggle for free and fair elections. Guyana must join with the world and condemn the brutal murder of peaceful protesters in Myanmar (Burma) for a similar cause.
At this juncture, the PPP/C Government must lead the mobilisations and commence consultations with the wide stakeholder groups of civil society, to ensure that we put in place all the necessary electoral reforms to stop all forms of rigging. The PPP/C must implement legislative reforms that require a simple majority in Parliament. GECOM must ensure actions are taken to realign the functionality of the organisation with our constitutional ideals for acceptability.
The differentiation of roles and functional responsibilities between the GECOM Secretariat and the Commission must distinctly be defined as we can no longer risk the abusive capitalisation on vague legal interpretations. Further, given the Guyana peculiarities, the Chairperson of GECOM must assert herself, face the reality and cleanse GECOM of all the riggers who are before the courts for fraud.
There must be explicitly clear distinctions between the GECOM Commission and the Secretariat. Roles and responsibilities must be clearly defined in keeping with our laws and regulations. Further, circulars, contracts, job descriptions, job specifications must be put in writing. Reforms must take into consideration: administrative, financial, accountability, procurement, audit as well as adjustment of disciplinary penalties to sufficiently deter all wrongdoings.
GECOM must put on its agenda, Local Government Elections (LGEs) scheduled for this year. Standard operational procedures have to be activated, to put in place appropriately competent staff and operationalise the necessary new period of continuous registration, followed by a period of claims and objections. This will cleanse and update the voter’s list realising an acceptable position for the commission to proceed.
GECOM must get down to the serious task of employing staff that will win the trust and confidence of the nation. The training of staff must be objective and never be allowed again, to be infiltrated by the PNC cabal. Therefore, stakeholders’ concern with the attitude and performance of the election day staff must be also addressed and remedied for the successful execution of the LGEs this year.
We will forever be grateful for the contribution to and recognition by the US and international community of our 2020 election results.
Yours sincerely,
Neil Kumar
