Free and fair elections must be a “right”, and not a privilege in Guyana!

Dear Editor,
Following Guyana’s March 02, 2020 General and Regional Elections, August 02, 2020 marks approximately 60 per cent of the People’s Progressive Party’s (PPP/C) term of office.
The eventual accession to govern as the elected party followed a tumultuous national struggle that had to be supported almost globally. It is public knowledge that the causal factors for this battle oozed from the historically manipulative and sustained cheating behaviour of the PNC and its cohorts, who have failed to recognize “free and fair elections” as our citizens’ right.
Emerging from the March 2020 General and Regional Elections is evidence of a glaring fraudulent plot involving corrupt officials as “frontmen and women” within the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) to misrepresent the authentic results in favour of the rejected PNC-led APNU. Some of these officials are now facing fraud charges in the courts. Still, one could hardly deny the associated PNC leadership role as orchestrators.
Notably, the PPP/C Government has amended related electoral legislation to serve as a deterrent against some of these occurrences at the GECOM level, but the PNC-led cabal remains unapologetic. One therefore must always be weary of the PNC’s seemingly sub-par approach to democratic guidelines and obligations. Consequently, the overseeing institutions must be proactive to prevent or arrest these undercurrents whenever contributing elements emerge.
The struggle for free and fair elections in Guyana must gain momentum with the participation of the broader diversity and inclusion of all our people. Guyanese must never suffer from another “rigged election.” The PNC’s greed and diabolic lust for ‘political power’ at any cost has led the orchestrators to employ a continuous division and rule strategy that plunged our people into the travesty of the condemnable rigging of elections. It is factual that the PPP/C’s Irfaan Ali-led Government has made tremendous strides in turning around our country’s economy.
Today, our country is transforming into a progressive state in which our people are guaranteed a better livelihood. The dynamic and visionary leadership of the People’s Progressive Party/Civic Government is accelerating the unification of this nation and developing a robust economy. The transformation of our national and international image in the global landscape is enlightening and realizing increased opportunities for our people. From this perspective, our citizens are also recognizably demonstrating merit-based considerations in their support for local and national leadership.
The role of GECOM is very significant as the constitutional body with the mandate for ensuring the delivery of acceptable results from free and fair elections. The institution has come a long way since the March 2020 debacle and the aftermath of the condemnable occurrences, which are still fresh in the minds of our people. The 2023 Local Government Elections were free and fair, and we should all commend GECOM for holding highly successful elections and improving its credibility. However, the National and Regional Elections scheduled for 2025 are already in sight, and the steps towards timely preparation seem to be on track.
The Guyana Police Force must be ready to prosecute those involved in advancing the PNC’s characteristic penchant for rigging within the legal framework, which now has more substantial penalties to protect our citizens’ rights. Further, our nation calls on our Judiciary to accelerate the hearing of these matters and apply the most significant penalties on those unwilling to appreciate that we live in a new era, where civilization will not accept any form of rigging of elections.
The present struggle in the courts in the United States of America and the lengthy imprisonment of several persons who mindlessly follow “Trump” lend testimony, and must be noted in Guyana. All those before the courts on fraud charges must defend themselves and spend the time for their crime. The penalty must act as a deterrent to “rigging”.
Concerning the 2025 National and Regional Elections, GECOM must ensure early scheduling, and put all possible logistics in place to hold those elections. The present Continuous Registration is highly successful, and will enable GECOM to produce an excellent Register of Registrants. However, GECOM will have to look carefully at its Election Day staff.
The support that Guyana received from the diplomats and CARICOM was indeed significant. However, we must cherish the memories of the Guardians of Democracy. It was a united people with the genuine leadership of the PPP/C, particularly the General Secretary of the PPP, Dr. Bharrat Jagdeo, and President Dr. Irfaan Ali, that ensured victory for the people. Our party will continue to preserve the constitutional rights of our people as an entitlement, and not a privilege.

Sincerely,
Neil Kumar