…one that exposes all skeletons in the closet
The Commission of Inquiry (CoI) into the drama filled 2020 General and Regional Elections is a welcome one, which stakeholders say must be comprehensive and get to the bottom of the election’s many controversies.
Last month, President Dr Irfaan Ali announced the long-awaited CoI. This publication spoke to several election stakeholders, whom for the most part welcomed the CoI while urging that it is a comprehensive one.
Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) Commissioner Bibi Shadick, who played a key role during the last elections and who would have been present during several pivotal moments, said she looks forward to a comprehensive CoI that exposes everything.
“I want to see all those things that they think they were hiding; I want to see them come out. I saw lots of stuff, in Ashmins. All those envelopes that they say were missing from ballot boxes, they were all in GECOM. There were videos showing GECOM staff opening them, putting them in garbage bags.”
“But you know, those things are never made public. People keep saying the documents were not included. The documents were (to) be brought to the RO (Returning Officer’s) office and they did. There’s lots of things, that I want to have come out and made public. Because the people of Guyana have a right to know,” Shadick said.
Strengthen institutions
Meanwhile, Private Sector Commission Chairman Paul Cheong welcomed the inquiry and the chance it presents to better understand what happened and strengthen institutions. Cheong also said that the CoI could also play a part in holding those who attempted to delay the elections, accountable.
“This is a good thing. We need to understand and expose what transpired during that process, so we can put systems in place so we can prevent this from ever happening in Guyana again. So, the whole process can be corrected. And probably deal with those who also played a part in attempting to derail the process,” Cheong posited.
“We’re looking on”
People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR) Chairman Shurwayne Holder was of the view that his party should have been among those consulted before the announcement of the CoI. Notwithstanding, he was of the hope that the CoI Terms of Reference would be as comprehensive as possible and receive the input of the Opposition.
“Our position is, we’re looking on at what’s happening… that has come, the President has made his decision on that. So, we can’t reverse it at this stage. But at minimum, if he pushes ahead with this CoI, we would expect that we would be involved in crafting the (Terms of Reference).”
“I wouldn’t want to comment on what they should be. Specifically. But it has to be broad-based, wide enough to deal with all the issues… you will want any Terms of Reference they put out, has to be able to capture a wide range of discrepancies that occurred during the elections,” Holder said.
CoI announcement
President Ali announced the members of the CoI last month, which will be chaired by Justice of Appeal (retired) Stanley John of the Turks and Caicos Islands. The other members are former Attorney General, High Court Judge, and acting Justice of Appeal in the Eastern Caribbean, Justice Godfrey P Smith, SC; former Chair and Chief Elections Commissioner of India, Dr S Y Quraishi; and former acting Chancellor of Guyana’s Judiciary, Justice Carl Singh.
