Appropriate remedies in establishing workable, satisfactory reforms

Dear Editor,
The safeguarding and protection of our freedom, democracy, rule of law, and the respect for our people is a promise and commitment given by President Irfaan Ali. The extreme threats to his own ascendency and the near disintegration of every social norm in our dear country is enough to justify condign actions that will ensure that the rights of the Guyanese people are never trampled upon again in our country. The role of key staff in the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) revealed serious fault lines which have eroded our people’s rights to “free and fair” elections.
The seeds of decay were long planted and the conditions for their fertilisation watered by the Granger Administration. Never has a national election body in the region exposed itself to such an incredible lack of transparency and accountability, with its officers openly directing fraudulent undertakings to realise the opposite of its purpose of establishment. Thankfully, charges brought against some personnel involved in the vicious failed attempt to hijack the March 2 election. The critiques at home and from abroad certainly evidence the obvious failure the organisation has become and stresses the need for a swift and absolute cleansing.
Across the nation, it was an atmosphere of our citizens’ disgust regarding the behaviour of officials of GECOM, and much of it also came from persons who supported the coalition. The local and international media, with sad, disgusting evidence and tales of the clear fraudulently-created conflicts and disputes. The Georgetown Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI) in a statement argued for the exclusion of the prejudicial report on Observation Reports submitted by the CEO to the Commission in the interest of free and fair elections and stated that “We have lost confidence entirely in Mr. Lowenfield as the CEO and manager of the Secretariat of GECOM”.
Testimony of the distasteful scenario created by elements in GECOM is also evidenced by the EU Observer Mission report which highlighted the numerous areas of the Organisation’s shortcomings and noted that by failing to take decisive action “as the electoral process derailed into chaos and illegality, GECOM abdicated its constitutional duty to take all actions necessary to ensure compliance with the law by any of its officials, despite unequivocal powers to remove and exercise disciplinary control over them.
The staff of GECOM was used to strengthen ethnic division in Guyana and sections of our population must not be allowed to take control of the staff in a manner that encourages and allows the trampling on our people’s constitutional “rights” to vote for a Government of their choice. The ridiculous and serious punishment this nation was put through at the hands these devious monsters was intensified from December 21, 2019, and particularly during the five months from March 2 to August 2, 2020. Clearly, this must never happen again. Hence, we must demand and ensure that the fundamental electoral and constitutional reforms are completed as a priority before any other election is held.
The Carter Center, among other reputable international electoral institutions, made a strong call on the PPP/C to expedite electoral reforms and promise to give valuable support. Towards this end, the European Union (EU) also expressed their willingness to support the reform process in cooperation with the Guyana Elections Commission along with other stakeholders. This is extremely important given the commitment of the European Union Election Observation Mission (EU EOM) who in their final report said that they look forward to working to further develop their strong partnership based our human, cultural and historical links.
The report argues that GECOM already undermined by limited inclusiveness and transparency, post-election developments and “exposed a dysfunctional commission that was unable to control its own secretariat”. It is therefore agreed that GECOM is in a serious situation where our people have lost confidence in them. It is imperative that the reforms at GECOM are immediate.
We call on the nation to support President Ali, the PPP/C and all relevant stakeholders as the necessary initiatives are put forward to objectively address the appropriate remedies in establishing workable and satisfactory reforms.

Sincerely,
Neil Kumar