PNC, David Granger must accept that electoral reform is a must

Dear Editor,
During his tenure as substantive and caretaker President of Guyana, David Granger displayed varied dispositions. These serve to evidence evolution of measures from a behind-the- scene pretentious orchestrator to directing consistently increasing displays of various forms of cognitive dissonance. Amidst the increasing public calls for his replacement by elements within the PNC, one has to ponder whether the obvious darkening shades of irrationality and bordering senile degradation are the real contributors.
Published media articles report former President David Granger’s declaration of support for the evidence-driven, callous and fraudulent actions taken by the Chief Election Officer Keith Lowenfield. These are no longer unbelievable nor surprising. Notably, he was at one point labelled ‘a Sanctimonious Gangster’. Mr Granger played, and remains rigid in the role of, the pious, manipulative deflector, although the grounds for such have been publicly eroded, even within his support base.
An article published in a section of the media, titled “Granger endorses Lowenfield chopping of 115,000 votes” dated June 30, 2020, reports that “President David Granger last evening endorsed a controversial report by Chief Election Officer (CEO) Keith Lowenfield which invalidated the votes of 25% of Guyanese electors.” This was done while the whole world stood up in objection to the ransom-permitted election fiasco during the five months following voting on March 2, 2020. In particular, these were against the Lowenfield report to GECOM on June 23rd, through which he disenfranchised 115,787 voters by invalidating approximately twenty-five percent of the votes cast.
More recently, Mr Granger emerged from his slumber to make shallow pronouncements regarding our necessary electoral reforms. He emphasised that the Guyana Court of Appeal should rule on electoral matters, not the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ). Could rational thinking citizens accept such gullibility?
It is not forgotten that the Judiciary in Guyana came in for serious criticisms consequent to their unacceptable ruling that thirty-three is not the majority of sixty-five in the resultant matter related to the December 2018 No-confidence Motion.
Furthermore, the Guyana Appellate Court, in rulings on various election-related matters that were subsequently examined by our Apex Court, revealed questionable shortcomings and an insult to our commitment to the foundations of an acceptable final Regional Justice position. Notably, on the issue “Votes Cast”, the matter brought by the APNU was thrown out after CCJ President Justice Adrian Saunders made his ruling.
Granger’s ramblings that the Court of Appeal, in his view, is competent to rule on internal electoral matters is a manifestation of emerged senility.
The PNC and David Granger must accept that Electoral Reform is a must. The Carter formula concerning the Chairman and the Commission is still an appropriate base position from which we will appreciate reviews towards a better formula. Lest we lose sight that the ideal of the reforms is to improve the system of producing acceptable results from transparent, free and fair elections, the unnecessary hypocritical ramblings to stymie the process by rejecting international assistance will dissipate.
It is obvious that, out of justified necessity, a review of the mechanism towards the appointment of the Chairperson and Commissioners, as well as their scope of performance and delivery, must be looked at. Notwithstanding, while we are looking at these details, we must not forget that it is not the two major parties selecting the Chairperson and the Commissioners.
The Parties (political), the Political Parties in Parliament, are supposed to nominate six names and send them to the President for his consideration for the Chairperson. In the current system, the Government will nominate three Commissioners, the Opposition Parties in Parliament normally nominate three Commissioners. Hence, it is expected that the PNC/ APNU will nominate two and the others will get an opportunity to nominate one of the Commissioners.
Further, there is also a need for the re-examination of the Representation of the People’s Act (RoPA). Electoral Reforms are a must, and we should not have a system where Commissioners are perpetually on the Commission. Such corrections are necessary to counter the loss of delivery of constitutional objectivity in favour of partisan party advantages.
Editor, the recent ruling by Chief Justice Roxanne George, that the Statements of Poll for March 2020 Elections be provided to the Police and Director of Public Prosecutions, is solid in law and must be applauded. It establishes that the Judiciary has ensured the affirmation of the significant central democratic pillar that will ensure the conduct of appropriate investigations regarding the anomalies in these elections. No longer will the shielding of these corrupt officials be tolerated.
The Chief Justice has consistently delivered solid and sound judicial decisions in response to repeated attempts by the conspirators to subvert the will of the people, and those who have sought to twist the laws of our country. There has been an erotic, eerie silence since she decided on the SOPs, particularly from the camp of the PNC, as main stakeholders to benefit from the plot. One would hope that the strong messages would likely deter future considerations toward the obvious mindset of the leading power-hungry cabal.
Then again, one has to consider the increasing delusional traits being perpetrated by the likes of David Granger, to see the new deflections and whether a new frenzied ploy will be adopted by the cabal.

Sincerely,
Neil Kumar