Well, it took a while for the COI into the March 2020 elections fiasco to deliver its Report. But then, with something as important as securing the fundamental mechanism on which our democratic form of governance rests, it ain’t something to breeze through. That’s right, folks: our right to choose our Government through our votes is a sacred right that we gotta guard with our lives. And lives WERE actually snuffed out by the army on the orders of the PNC exactly 50 years ago to subvert that right. And when the news of THIS attempt broke, the Police shot and killed a young man over in Cotton Tree – who was merely observing his fellow villagers’ indignation!! What that tells us, of course, is that we better solve this problem quick!
So, what did the COI say?? Stripped of all the whys and wherefores, it declared, “In summary, our inquiry reveals that there were, in fact, shockingly brazen attempts by Chief Election Officer (CEO) Keith Lowenfield, Deputy Chief Election Officer (DCEO) Roxanne Myers, and Returning Officer (RO) Clairmont Mingo to derail and corrupt the statutorily prescribed procedure for the counting, ascertaining and tabulation of votes of the March 2nd election, as well as the true declaration of the results of that election, and that they did so – to put it in the unvarnished language of the ordinary man – for the purpose of stealing the election.” Yeah…let the truth be “unvarnished”!! They were thiefin’ the election for the PNC!!
Now, the first thing we can expect is the PNC and its myrmidons will come out swinging at the Commission. Can’t deny the message, so go after the messenger!! But the CoI was chaired by a Justice of the Appeal (retired) of Turks and Caicos, Stanley John. Surely, he doesn’t have any skin in the (Guyanese political) game – just like Commissioner Godfrey P. Smith, High Court Judge (Belize) and former Justice of Appeal (ag) in the Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court. They could’ve certainly outvoted our former Chancellor, Carl Singh – who would’ve had his opinions, having witnessed the power grab up close and personal!!
So, what’s the Government gonna do about it?? The chief riggers are before the Courts, and the cases MUST be heard before the matter becomes moot. The Govt gotta now make systemic changes in the structure and the composition of GECOM and its Secretariat!! We gotta first admit it’s not that GECOM’s top brass who did the dirty were evil or such. They were just doing it for the “tribe”!! That’s how things go down in these divided societies!!
With all the new rules that will be introduced, then, these gatekeeper institutions can’t ever be dominated by any one “side”!!
…we already have spies!!
President Ali confirmed what your Eyewitness said right after the Stabber came out with its sensationalising editorial that declared the PPP Government was setting up a spy agency to keep tabs on us. Seems the National Intelligence and Security Agency (NISA) was established over a decade ago!! Meaning that Presidents Ramotar and Granger both would’ve been given intelligence gleaned by NISA!!
But, of course, you can’t have the President disturbed for any old alarm – the intelligence would’ve moved up the ladder. Here most likely through the “Public Security Minister”. And this is where the mystery as to how Khemraj and Kathy nabbed those Russian hackers – who came in to rig our manual elections with pencil erasers – is now solved!! Khemraj was given intelligence by NISA!! Of course, being the crack criminal lawyer that he is (very, very crack!!) he quickly figured out how they’d erase thousands of ticks on ballot papers to swing the elections!! And deported them!!
NISA and Khemraj saved the day!!
…fading away
Brigadier Godfrey Bess just retired after 33 years of service. Your Eyewitness is reminded of US General Mac Arthur’s farewell speech. He said, “Old generals don’t die; they simply fade away.” MacArthur joined the RAND think tank – maybe Bess will join NISA??
