THE APNU+AFC Coalition is continuing to peddle a false narrative that it was cheated out of office, despite overwhelming evidence to the contrary.  In fact, the elections were declared free and fair by all local and international observers and fully endorsed by the diplomatic community. No other election in the history of the country was subjected to the level of scrutiny as that of the March 2, 2020 polls. After several counts and recounts, the elections were called by the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) in favour of the PPP/C whose Presidential Candidate, Dr. Mohamed Irfaan Ali, was sworn in as the duly-elected President. The elections were certified by all local and international observers including a team from the Caribbean Community which was mandated to oversee the recount process.

One would have thought that after one year of the PPP/C in office, the APNU+AFC would have gradually, if not grudgingly, come to terms with the fact of its defeat and begin the process of introspection as to the reasons it had lost the elections and start re-strategising on the way forward. Instead, it continued to spread misinformation and disinformation trying, as it were, to throw dust in the eyes of its supporters and the rest of the population.

Trying to mislead its own supporters regarding its defeat at the polls is bad enough but trying to deceive the international community by way of false and malicious statements is totally unacceptable and completely at odds with the norms of a democratic and civilised political culture.

The recent protest actions organised by  a grouping of individuals associated with the APNU/AFC is indicative of the extent to which some opposition elements are prepared to go to  undermine the democratic processes in Guyana and to sow the seeds of ethnic and political discord in the country.

The Government of Guyana, in a statement, has rejected the malicious statements delivered at an activity in Brooklyn, New York, titled ‘Anti-PPP Racism March and Rally’. The rally was organised by a group calling itself the Guyanese Organisations Against Racism (GOAR) and was addressed by several opposition members including a few Members of Parliament and other functionaries of the political opposition.

In its statement, the government said “It took note of the numerous malicious and false claims made by several Members of Parliament, Regional representatives and other persons associated with the A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) political party. We wish to place on record that we reject all the statements delivered at today’s march and rally. The APNU continues to propagate racial division and tension in Guyana and in the diaspora through the dissemination of inaccurate information about the Government of Guyana and, by extension, the People’s Progressive Party. These attacks are mere desperation by the APNU, who, one year later refuses to accept the results of the 2020 General and Regional Elections.”

What was particularly disappointing was remarks reportedly made by Congressman Hakeem Jeffries, who apparently allowed himself to be negatively influenced by individuals who have a clear political agenda to undermine democracy in Guyana and sow the seeds of ethnic division in the country. The Congressman, who is no stranger to our politics, ought to have known from statements emanating from reputable and impartial observer groups including that of the Carter Center, the Organization of American States, the European Commission and, by no means least, from the United States Ambassador, Ms. Sarah Lynch, that the APNU narrative is wholly untrue and without substance.

Jeffries is a prominent figure in the United States politics, and as Chairman of the House Democratic Caucus ought to be more measured and objective in the way he treats with matters pertaining to other countries, especially Guyana which is now in the cusp of new and transformative changes which will potentially result in a more prosperous and cohesive society. His apparent ‘solidarity’ with known political dissents with political axes to grind will not help that process in Guyana, especially coming at a time when the country is still to fully recover from the trauma of an attempted derailment of the democratic processes by representatives of the very group that he reportedly stood in solidarity with.

And, as if that were not enough, he is reported to have urged President Biden to replace US Ambassador to Guyana, Sarah-Ann Lynch, who, among other members of the diplomatic community, was vocal on the question of free and fair elections in the country and for which they won the admiration of Guyanese and all those who cherish the ideals of a democratic and rules-based society.

Perhaps Jeffries may do well to take up the offer of the government to come to Guyana and have a first-hand and eyewitness account of what is really happening in the country. Seeing, it is said, is believing, and Congressman Jeffries may very well learn that some of the people who was feeding him with information may not be doing him justice, and for that matter, the cause for which they purportedly seek to embrace.