Massive protests demanding elections held countrywide

A massive countrywide protest demanding Regional and General Elections and against the ongoing House-to-House Registration which will cause a delay, ensued on Friday as People’s Progressive Party supporters picketed in front of the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) offices.

Organised by the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C), persons also called upon President David Granger to announce a date for new polls as is constitutionally mandated.
Court proceedings have already been filed to terminate the “illegal” registration exercise, which began last Saturday, by the Guyana Elections Commission as many took to the streets to voice their concerns over the current political dilemma.
The country was swarmed with peaceful picketing as placards voiced the immense need for the elections body and the Head of State to respect the Constitution of Guyana.
Former Prime Minister, Samuel Hinds was among the protesters in Georgetown as he urged the President to call a date for new polls. His calls came after Chief Elections Officer, Keith Lowenfield confirmed earlier this week that the Official List of Electors can be renewed with a Claims and Objections period, rather than to formulate a new list.
“We are calling on our President to name a date for elections now. We’re calling on GECOM and Mr Lowenfield to start the preparations for elections September 18. He has come out saying that the list can be refreshed with a Claims and Objections period and he should get on with that and suspend the House-to-House Registration,” the former Prime Minister relayed.
Hinds told media operatives that Guyanese have a right to express their concerns when legal frameworks, such as the Constitution, are violated or misinterpreted. He clarified that Cabinet should resign and accept its caretaker status.
“We need all our people in Guyana. Whether they vote for us or any other party, they have a part in this. They should also be holding out that the Constitution be respected now. Our reading of the Constitution and the CCJ ruling is that the President must call the date for elections. He and his Cabinet and all his people should be handing their resignations and then as the Constitution says, they should stay in office in a caretaker mode so he is the person that has to set the date for elections.”
The President made a shocking statement on Thursday that there is no timeline for elections, even though the Caribbean Court of Justice’s orders prescribed that the constitutional deadline for elections must be upheld. Chief Justice Roxanne George provided clarifications which indicated that the deadline for elections will end on September 18, 2019. With this activity in play, there is a great possibility that the Constitution will not be honoured.
As such, Executive Secretary of the PPP/C, Zulfikar Mustapha reiterated the opinions of many that GECOM is violating the Constitution by proceeding with the exercise.
Mustapha said, “GECOM is violating our Constitution, especially the Chief Elections Officer. GECOM should have never embarked on a House-to-House Registration because the CCJ has ruled that election will have to be held within three months”.
He further stated, “We are seeing is a violation of our Constitution and we are urging that GECOM should stop the House-to-House Registration and they should immediately embark on preparation for national and regional elections”.
Adding to that, Member of Parliament, Nigel Dharamlall reiterated that House-to-House Registration will not be completed in time for the election deadline, resulting in a substantial delay.
“We are protesting the unconstitutional action of GECOM where they have proceeded on House-to-House Registration…This House-to-House Registration is going to take us beyond September 18,” the Opposition MP suggested.
Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo had pointed out on Thursday that the work plan for the registration activity contained a 290 day period for the registration exercise which will run until February 2020.
The People’s Progressive Party (PPP) simultaneously picketed the three Guyana Elections Commissions (GECOMs) in Berbice as part of its countrywide protest of GECOM.
In Region Five, (Mahaica-Berbice) the exercise was held in front of GECOM’s Fort Wellington office where scores of persons held placards and chanted slogans accusing GECOM of not acting in accordance with the ruling of the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ).
The party’s regional supervisor, Faisal Jaffer Ali, explained that they were there to ensure that democracy prevails. He made mention of the dictatorship tendency of the coalition Government, which he said is stifling democracy.
“What we are seeing in Guyana is an attempt [by] this illegal caretaker Administration which is led by David Granger, who seems not to understand or to play ‘hard-ears’; the guy is definitely shameless. He is barefaced not to want to adhere to the constitutional provisions in our country; not to want to respect the Judiciary of our country and the Caribbean because, in addition to what the Constitution says, the CCJ ruled that elections must be held in accordance with the Constitution, and that is three months. So, elections should be by the 17. September,” Jafarrly emphasised.
Meanwhile, in Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne) the party’s supervisor, Zaman Hussain, explained that party supporters are dissatisfied with the steps taken by GECOM. He said these are contradictory to the CCJ’s ruling and referred to the House-to-House Registration which commenced almost a week ago, saying it is an illegal act.
More than a hundred and fifty party supporters protested outside of GECOM’s office on Princess Elizabeth Road in New Amsterdam and almost a similar number did the same at GECOM’s Corriverton office.
Region Six’s Chairman, David Aragon, who was also on the picket line, told reporters that apart from the GECOM issues, the party wants to send a strong message.
Meanwhile, similar protests were also held in other areas of the country including Mabaruma and Port Kaituma, Region One (Barima-Waini); Anna Regina, Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam), Region Three (Essequibo Islands-West Demerara); Region Five (Mahaica-Berbice); Bartica, Region Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni); Mahdia, Region Eight (Potaro-Siparuni); Lethem, Region Nine (Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo) and Region 10 (Upper Demerara-Berbice).
Meanwhile, last Friday hundreds of People’s Progressive Party supporters gathered outside of the Guyana Elections Commission’s headquarters in Kingston after the body decided to proceed with the prolonged registration.
Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo was baffled about the legal basis on which GECOM’s CEO advanced with the exercise. Jagdeo added that from the Opposition’s perspective, Lowenfield acted in a rogue manner since he did not formally inform the PPP about the confirmed start of new House-to-House Registration.
Earlier this week, an interim conservatory order to block GECOM from continuing its House-to-House Registration was not granted as Chief Justice (CJ) Roxanne George required more evidence as to the unconstitutionality of the exercise. The affidavits on this matter are to be submitted on Monday and the court will resume the hearing on August 2, 2019.