Home Letters It is time to swear Dr Irfaan Ali in as President of...
Dear Editor,
As congratulatory messages continue to pour in from eminent local persons and international world leaders, Guyanese citizens can now breathe easier with the likely imminent swearing-in of Dr Irfaan Ali as the Ninth Executive President of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana.
Albeit, the ongoing vexatious challenge of frivolous related issues which have been brought by agents of the PNC to the Guyana Court of Appeal, Chairwoman of the Guyana Elections Commission Justice (retired) Claudette Singh must be commended for her decisive and firm stand towards the long-awaited closure in this regard.
Notably, it has been the view of many that Chairwoman Claudette Singh allowed too much latitude in GECOM’s treatment of the election matters resulting in the intolerable delays. Retrospectively, however, I have become more understanding of the extreme pressure and difficult position in which she found herself.
Importantly, the role of the many local and international stakeholders in this fight for democracy should never be understated, and one should not attempt to divorce them from all that has taken place in the recent past. Therefore, it is appropriate to recognise all interventionists in this respect, while by no means expansive; the myriad group includes the representatives of the Guyana Bar Association, the Private Sector Commission, the various Chambers of Commerce, individual commentators, as well as the various media outfits.
Of note, standing up for democracy is indeed the central pillar that binds us to our international partners as the overwhelming interlocutor in our mutual relationships. In this regard, Guyana will, therefore, be forever grateful to the representatives of the Caricom Community, the United States of America, the United Kingdom, the European Union, Canada, the Organisation of American States, the Commonwealth and the host of international observers including The Carter Center that have played a critical role since 1990.
Although Dr Ali and the PPP/C team has earned the right to govern following these elections, the small contesting parties also played a critical role. In unison, they have presented a united front in standing for right, justice, and truth in confronting the threat of the looming dictatorship while setting the stage for strengthening positive engagements. Among them, A New and United Guyana (ANUG), the United Republican Party (URP), Change Guyana, Liberty and Justice Party (LJP), The People’s Republic Party (PRP), the Citizenship Initiative (TCI), The New Movement (TNM), The Federal United Party (FED UP) and the Organisation of Victory of the People Party (OVP).
Collectively, our citizens have expressed their will at the March 2, 2020 elections, demonstrating majority support for Dr Ali and the PPP/C team to govern our country for the next five years. It is a deserving significant position earned by having to tread a thorn-filled pathway, caused by APNU/AFC’s shameless, irrational, vexatious abuse of the legal system and Government power, coupled to the absolute contamination of the election operations machinery. Indeed, Dr Irfaan Ali and the team would have had to navigate a path constantly booby-trapped by clandestine GECOM and PNC/APNU/AFC.
More than 115 days after the polls, Guyanese have become intolerant and fed up of the uncaring, defiantly cheating Granger cabal. We yearn for a new Government that is weary and frustrated, but determined and cognisant of the need to re-charter Guyana’s development path in resuscitating the country from the failed fraudulence and created a negative trajectory of the APNU/AFC’s system. We do so amidst and against the most outlandish attacks on our citizens’ rights and the most blatant attempts to steal and rig the results of the elections that are visible for all to see.
The greatest threats have been those to the Guyanese future, which the Granger-led cabal uncaringly and indecently allowed into stormy unchartered waters. Therefore, in appreciating the significance of this defining electoral victory, we must do so cognisant that we have halted the imposition of a dictatorship and created a win-win environment for all Guyanese.
Importantly, the recount of votes cast at these elections has opened the eyes of all Guyanese regarding the absolute contamination and prejudice approach of key administrators in the GECOM. Mr Keith Lowenfield’s behaviour is tantamount to criminal and the police should investigate and prosecute him for electoral fraud along with other culpable players.
Never again should the nation allow the shenanigans which the GECOM CEO perpetrated with full public evidence to raise its ugly face in Guyana. Further, there must be a full audit of the GECOM accounts given that Lowenfield had overseen the spending of over $15 billion over the past four elections without audit.
It is also necessary that the PPP/C Government give their strongest commitment to facilitating the necessary constitutional review of the electoral mechanism, which has served its purpose but is now clearly inadequate. Notwithstanding, the message has to be sent that those involved in electoral fraud have no place at GECOM and that they will be dealt with condignly.
There is a lot of work that Dr Ali and team have to do in targeting the rebuilding Guyana’s tarnished image because of the de facto Government’s improprieties. We must hold each other’s hand as we work together to support Dr Ali and the PPP/C team in advancing a prosperous Guyana for all Guyanese.
Mere words will never be adequate to say thanks to PPP Generally Secretary, Bharrat Jagdeo and his inspirational leadership.
It is now time to swear in Dr Irfaan Mohamed Ali as Guyana’s Ninth Executive President!
Sincerely,
Neil Kumar
