They say “time longer than twine”. But even though the twine in the 2020 rigging case has been unwinding ever since the GECOM Secretariat’s not-so-blind three mice: CEO Keith Lowenfield, Reg 4 Returning Officer Clairmont Mingo, and DCEO Roxanne Myers; and six cohorts – former PNCR Chairperson Volda Lawrence, PNCR activist Carol Smith-Joseph, and GECOM employees Sheffern February, Enrique Livan, Denise Babb-Cummings, and Michelle Miller – were brought before the court the following year, the case is yet to be tried!!
They also say the wheel of justice grinds very slowly, but this is ridiculous!! This case isn’t about some petty matter, like stealing your neighbour’s mangoes; this is stealing the most fundamental right of every Guyanese: the right to choose who’ll rule them!!
Back in 2023, after several magistrates had found all sorts of reasons to recuse themselves from the trial, the AG had complained thus: “Magistrates after magistrates have found reasons that can’t withstand scrutiny for not proceeding to try these cases and other related cases”!! Earlier, in March of this year, while the trial was halted by the latest Magistrate: Senior Magistrate Leron Daly, because the two top defendants had brought a constitutional objection to the High Court (which was thrown out) – the AG had again expressed his frustration: “When I say anything, I’m being accused of criticizing the judiciary, of criticizing the magistracy, of interference. I believe – and I reiterate – that this case is unduly delayed, and every opportunity that presents itself for the case to be delayed, that opportunity is acted upon. And that is a fair commentary on the state of affairs.”
A fair commentary indeed!!
Following that delaying tactic, the case was resumed in July, but again kept getting postposed due to the Magistrate falling ill. Now, no one can prevent illnesses, but one would’ve thought that considering the importance of the case to the body politic, the Chief Magistrate would’ve assigned another of her magistrates to hear the case; and, in so doing, save poor Magistrate Daly’s blushes due to innuendoes about the nature of her illness. “Belly wuk” was one of the kinder ones!! But it’s only now – three months later – we’re told this case would be tried from tomorrow!!
Today, of course, is the public holiday of Diwali – the festival that assures us good will triumph over evil. And what could be eviler than elections’ rigging?? Just as Lord Ram had been welcomed by diyas after he defeated Rawan for stealing his wife, all Guyana hopes that, at long last, these elections’ stealers would be brought to justice, and we can get on with elections 2025.
There’s also the danger that the Opposition would be unalterably stigmatised if the trial drags on into the elections period!
Every smart fly does end up in cow’s backside??
…PNC’s contempt explained
Upon reflection, one has to also ask: Why were Granger and the PNC willing to take the risk of rigging elections again? You just had to’ve followed the unguarded blogs of PNC folks: it’s all tied to their view of the “kind of people” in the PPP. Let’s start from the head honcho himself – David Granger. At a 2017 meeting with the faithful in Atlanta, he got a big chuckle when he referred to the PPP’s heckling while he’d addressed the National Assembly. He snickered: “I was greeted in the National Assembly by a crowd of vulgarians! Yes, vulgarians: persons who make ostentatious displays of wealth and are often poorly educated or lacking in refinement”!!
It’s more than just an elitist disparagement of “PPP people”. It was explained by Nietzsche as “ressissentiment”: having deep anger and envy at a set of people who were once your social inferiors, but who’ve now superseded you!
How can such people be ALLOWED to rule in the age of oil?? They’re beyond the pale!!
…Kamala’s last stand
Kamala Harris staged her last campaign stop where Trump’s supporters had raided the Capitol: in an anti-Trump gesture, rather than a pro-Kamala statement. The Telegraph said her campaign ended as it began – all style and no substance!!
