Dear Editor,
The Granger-led fallen APNU/AFC Coalition Government condescendingly attempts to treat the intelligence of Guyanese and that of the representatives of our associating states with an irrational lack of astuteness and deserving candor.
The reactions of these institutions and states has been through strong and definitive statements of intent regarding the grounds on which they are prepared to co-exist, and this is pivotal to the advancement of democracy.
I and hundreds of thousands of Guyanese at home and in the diaspora welcome the forthrightness and timely statements of the British High Commissioner and the new Ambassador of the United States of America, who have highlighted their country’s recognition of the supremacy of our Constitution, and the need for a framework establishing free and fair elections. We therefore applaud the eminence of many civil society groups who have joined the rallying call for David Granger to stop ‘pussy-footing’ and call Elections in adherence to the Guyana Constitution.
The recent meeting between President Granger and the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) is nothing but another set of shenanigans aimed at some elaborate pretence and bureaucratic time extensions. The partial revelations of a necessity for information regarding GECOM’s finances and programme is actually information in the domain of the President as he seeks to take Guyanese for another bureaucratic adventure. It is a known fact that all constitutional agencies are required to provide the Cabinet with monthly reports regarding their plans and utilisation of appropriated funds, and this is accounted for via the IFMAS automated system of the Ministry of Finance.
GECOM’s own position of its role woefully exposes and contradicts President Granger’s abhorrent pronouncements of his related responsibilities. Details publicly published on its website (http://www.gecom.org.gy/home/about_gecom) state:
“GECOM is insulated from executive interference in the performance of its functions. By virtue of Article 226 of the Constitution, GECOM, like other constitutional Commissions, shall not be subject to the direction and control of any other person or authority. Schedules for the conduct of general, regional and local government elections are decided upon by the Commission once a date for the election is announced by the President”.
The situation therefore affirms that the Chairman and three APNU/AFC Commissioners are violently contradicting the role of the organisation, and playing games with the Guyanese people. A heightened lack of trust in President Granger and his APNU/AFC regime exists as a consequence of the volatile nature of responses, which have been most unpredictable.
Never before has there been so many instances of inconsistency by a Government — which are evidenced by public statements, then withdrawals and changes to pronounced positions. It begs answers regarding how one can reasonably make projections with any degree of certainty without having myriad backup plans.
President Granger’s glaring constitutional variances of convenient interpretation resulted in his unilateral appointment of James Patterson as GECOM Chairman. It highlights his intent to hold our country to ransom when necessary, and emphasises a concerted clandestine orchestration — along with his three Commissioners — to manipulate the institution towards the self-serving interest of the fallen coalition Government. The politically appointed Chairman has proved beyond a shadow of a doubt his established untrustworthiness and that of the David Granger lot.
Sincerely,
Neil Kumar
