Dear Editor,
Now that the Americans have spoken that they want “free, fair and peaceful” elections, I am breathing a little easier. There are still many challenges, and inimically, the most crucial ones will be devised by GECOM itself. However, it is not going to be an easy feat to rig an election under the noses of the Americans in this day and age. Granger, therefore, knows his best bet is to delay and obstruct as long as possible.
Granger’s Government’s refusal to head to the polls and their violation of the Constitution, co-opting of GECOM and the Courts in the process, has not won them any friends. In fact, it has done the exact opposite. The international community, barring Caricom, is beginning to show signs of fatigue with this caretaker Government. And who can blame them? It is exceedingly tedious to sit and listen to the lame excuses being proffered every day.
Caricom has chosen to remain silent and steadfast behind Granger even as he continues to violate the rule of law and the rights of citizens. Guyanese will now go to the polls a full 437 days after the Government was defeated in Parliament by the No-Confidence Motion, which was held on December 21, 2018. In effect, future use of no-confidence votes, as a democratic tool, has been irreparably compromised by this obscene precedent. The CCJ is partly to blame and Caricom’s silence, in spite of all this, shows its unprofessionalism and bias.
It is my personal belief that going forward, Guyana needs to distance itself from Caricom and its organs, including the CCJ. This country is going to be a major oil producer and should, therefore, align itself with similar states so as to enjoy better trade deals and with those demonstrating strong democratic credentials. The time has come for Guyana to forge stronger relations with North America and with its friendly South American counterparts. Caricom is baggage and should be treated as such.
Sincerely,
Ravi Ram
