Dear Editor,
The internal dynamics of Guyana are in a potentially explosive political crisis, emanating from who control Guyana. Many intelligent and sincere people are convinced that the taking of or continuation in power by the APNU/AFC coalition Government will be destructive for the nation while the Government satisfies their own self-interest.
The most troublesome and worrying development is the Guyana Elections Commission, which was explicitly created to prepare and conduct elections (which the Constitution specified could be held anytime) and which exists to continuously update the voters’ registry and otherwise prepare for elections at any time. GECOM is acting in defiance of the Constitution and continues to be partisan in its behaviour when making critical decisions. It is factual that GECOM is an autonomous Commission that is being financed by taxpayers, and must ensure that its constitutional mandates are being fulfilled despite any external political forces. The drastic action by GECOM to embark on House-to-House Registration cannot satisfy all stakeholders in the holding of credible elections since obligations to hold genuine elections have not been addressed comprehensively or systematically by GECOM.
However, no two electoral systems are exactly alike, there is no single model of democracy, there is no one size democracy that fits all, while it differs, the range of democratic systems does share one important similarity that is the intricate link to everyone’s civil rights and obligations.
While each country’s sovereign right is to choose how to conduct its elections, UN member states have agreed by a set of obligations and commitments to protect and promote electoral rights of their citizens, basically to ensure that every citizen has the effective right and opportunity to participate in elections on an equal basis.
If a Guyanese goes out of the country for six months and returns to Guyana after the final voters’ list has been compiled by GECOM, (but their name was on the last voters’ list), only to be told that their name is no longer on the voters’ list, that would deny this person an opportunity of their constitutional right to vote. Therefore, the ongoing HTH Registration is not only denying this person their right, but many other Guyanese who are holidaying overseas.
Guyanese must ask:
1) Why is it that GECOM presently doesn’t have a valid voters’ list?
2) Why did GECOM allow the voters’ list to expire?
3) What happens if there should be by-elections in the Local Government System?
Billions are being spent by taxpayers yet officials who are mandated to execute their functions are failing. We must not continue to pay officials for failure and incompetence in GECOM.
GECOM, under its new leadership, must act professionally to ensure that Guyana remains a democratic State. The UN, OAS, Carter Center etc must be asked to assist in the preparations for elections before September 18, 2018. Congratulations to the new Chairperson of GECOM.
Regards,
Zamal Hussain
