More thoroughness by international observers needed

Dear Editor,
I have noted the decision of the Kenyan High Court in relation to the recently held presidential elections in that country. The Court pronounced the elections null and void.
The Court came to that decision because of the many irregularities that were found. The Parties would go to the poll in two months’ time.
This is a historic decision and it spells well for democracy, not only in Kenya, but in Africa and the world.
It is apposite to note that the reasons for pronouncing the elections null and void has many similarities with the elections in Guyana, held on May 11, 2015.
The Kenyan Court found credible evidence of fictitious polling places and statements of poll. In Guyana, one of the charges was that fake statements of poll were used to determine the election results.
In Kenya, the charge was that the IT system was hacked. In Guyana the IT section was shut down. It was not used to tally the votes to determine the results of the poll as the law prescribed.
Both the Kenyan and Guyanese elections clearly instructed that international observers need to be more thorough in elections observation.
It should be noted that the Carter Centre was there headed by John Kerry, former Secretary of State in the US Government. The European Union was also present.
In Guyana we have had international observers, including the Carter Centre. Yet significant fraud took place in Kenya and in Guyana.
I wish to point out that in the case of Kenya in less than a month the Kenyan Court heard the case and pronounced on it. This is indeed a giant step forward in the advancement of democracy and the rule of law.
In Guyana, after more than two years, the case cannot be heard. This is due mainly to the manoeuvring of the Secretariat of the Elections Commission and the sloth of the Judiciary.
In normal circumstances, the CEO and Secretariat of the Elections Commission would be pushing to vindicate themselves in the courts and in public opinion. It is therefore, strange and monstrous that the body is trying to frustrate a hearing by the court.
I wish to once more call on the Elections Commission/Secretariat to stop frustrating the hearing and urge the courts to hear this case immediately.
The delay will further undermine our democracy and lead us back to a period of similar to what we had from the late 1960s to 1992, when Guyana’s Government was regarded as dictatorship due mainly to electoral fraud.
I wish to express my congratulations to the Court of Kenya in the professional and efficient way in which it conducted itself. This is a great example to all countries striving for democratic government, separation of powers and the rule of law.

Sincerely,
Donald Ramotar
Former President