Guyanese are delighted and grateful for int’l recognition of 2020 elections’ results

Dear Editor,
Easter Greetings to all Guyanese! May the hope and promise of this auspicious occasion serve to inspire the necessary moulding commitments that continue to harmonise unite our nation!
At the time of penning this article, it is one month since that faithful March 02, 2020 elections day, when our citizens demonstrated affirmatively against the mushrooming oppression of the previous PNC/APNU/AFC regime. Subsequently, our country became a spectacle of global focus, demanding the attention of the most powerful advocates of democratic rights. The final true results were affirmed only after five gruelling months, with the strong united front from local protectors of democracy and the help of the International Community.
No doubt, the strategic and constructive leadership of PPP/C General Secretary Dr. Bharrat Jagdeo, together with our new President Dr. Irfaan Ali, proved to be visionary. Guyana’s path is now clearer, and Guyanese are certainly delighted, happy, and grateful for the support of the US State Department, Canada, the European Community, the Commonwealth, Caricom, and other countries for their recognition of the 2020 elections’ results.
The vile nature of the PNC- led APNU/AFC cabal was on full public display as they attempted to upturn the true result of the elections. Corroborating the clandestine operations were infiltrated elements of the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM), including senior administrative personnel under the control of a tainted Chief Elections Officer. The US Human Rights report addressing the matter refers to the APNU/AFC’s blatant and contemptuous refusal to accept the results of the National and Regional Elections held on 2nd March 2020.
Further, the report condemns the APNU/AFC reaction to the passing of the successful No-Confidence Motion, and also chided the approach of the judiciary which led to the procrastination of Elections in Guyana. Matters such as these, however, were manipulated to influence the turbulent five months in which the APNU/AFC squatted in office as a de facto Government. During the period, the Guyanese people had to live with serious Police excesses, which led to the brutal murder of several persons. Our country became a shadow of itself under the flagrant violations, but was certainly focused on having the related attending situation resolved peacefully.
Guyana certainly set the pace regarding the peaceful approaches to struggle for free and fair elections. This, however, could not have been achieved without the tremendous support from observer missions and international organisations, and the wider diplomatic community. Certainly, the superior leadership of Dr. Bharrat Jagdeo served as a mould, uniting all the forces in Guyana in the struggle for free and fair elections.
Guyana must join with the world and condemn the brutal murder of peaceful protesters in Myanmar (Burma) for a similar cause. At this juncture, the PPP/C Government must lead the mobilisations and commence consultations with the wide stakeholder groups in civil society to ensure that we put in place all the necessary electoral reforms to stop all forms of rigging.
The PPP/C must implement legislative reforms that require a simple majority in Parliament, and lead the concurrent systemic cleansing of all aspects of the electoral body. GECOM must ensure actions are taken to realign the functionality of the organisation with our constitutional ideals for acceptability.
Differentiation of roles and functional responsibilities between the GECOM Secretariat and Commission must distinctly be defined, as we can no longer risk the abusive capitalisation on vague legal interpretations.
Further, given the Guyana peculiarities, the Chairperson of GECOM must assert herself, face the reality, and cleanse GECOM of all the riggers who are before the courts for fraud.
There must be explicitly clear distinctions between the GECOM Commission and the Secretariat. Roles and responsibilities must be clearly defined, in keeping with our laws and regulations. Further, circulars, contracts, job descriptions, and job specifications must be put in writing. Reforms must take into consideration administrative, financial, accountability, procurement, audit, as well as adjustment of disciplinary penalties to sufficiently deter all wrongdoings.
GECOM MUST put on its agenda local government elections (LGEs) scheduled for this year. Standard operational procedures have to be activated to put in place appropriately competent staff and operationalise the necessary new period of continuous registration, followed by a period of claims and objections. This will cleanse and update the Voter’s List, realising an acceptable position from which the Commission can proceed.
GECOM must get down to the serious task of employing staff who would win the trust and confidence of the nation. The training of staff must be objective, and never again be allowed to be infiltrated by the PNC cabal who have, in the past, largely employed their tugs and fraudsters. Therefore, stakeholders’ concerns with the attitude and performance of the Election Day staff must be also addressed and remedied for the successful execution of the LGEs this year.
We will forever be grateful to the US and the international community for their contribution to, and recognition of, our 2020 elections’ results.

Respectfully,
Neil Kumar