How many times must we “fix” our election rules before the PNC says it’s “fair”? The answer, my friend ain’t blowin’ in no wind!! We’ll be forced to keep on changing those rules until they GUARANTEE them winning whatever elections they enter – to get their paws on power! Your Eyewitness knows that all politicians enter politics to get power, but what do you do when a party accepts specific changes – then goes on to renege on them if they end up losing??
Take that 1997 elections that led to so much bloodshed in Guyana. The PNC agreed in Parliament with the PPP that the National ID Card with the holder’s picture could be used to identify persons to vote. So far…so good. The elections went on, were certified as fair by observers, domestic and foreign, but, lo and behold, the PNC cried foul!! Not for alleged “irregularities” – which were proven by a forensic audit to be just crying wolf – but over the use of ID Cards!! They claimed this wasn’t allowed by the Constitution: and the High Court – presided by Justice Claudette Singh – agreed!! And to rub salt into the wound, up to this day, the PNC insists the 1997 elections were rigged by the PPP!!
So, are you surprised the PPP’s leery about agreeing with the PNC to introduce more biometric features to make voting more foolproof?? The PPP knows that this “burden” on the right of Guyanese to exercise their franchise will be challenged by the PNC in the courts using the same constitutional argument – if they lose!! Point of the matter is the PNC doesn’t believe in democracy – which essentially means governments are selected through the garnering of a majority. If they did get into Government in 2015 through the very system they are denouncing now, why didn’t they denounce the electoral system as fatally flawed then??
Take, for instance, the testimony of the Assistant Registration Officer of GECOM last Wednesday. She testified that she was arbitrarily given a spreadsheet – rather than the SoPs – by Mingo or his assistant, to read out the “results” from her EBD sub-region. Yet she confirmed the SoPs were in the room as she tried vainly to project the spreadsheet numbers on a wall. Upon objections from observers, that the numbers didn’t match theirs, she said she was exhorted to continue reading by Mingo’s deputy!!
Now, your Eyewitness accepts that the PPP gotta try closin the door through which the latest (PNC election) horse bolted. But they – and we – can bet our bottom dollar some new doors will be created, come 2025 and thereafter!!
The PNC has earned PhDs in elections’ rigging – while the PPP is in lil ABC!!
…the greenback??
Paper US currency – printed in green ink – was first issued during their 1860s Civil War – and hence the name “greenback”!! Before that, gold and silver coins were used!! Since then, the dollar went on to replace the British pound sterling – originally silver coins!) as the dominant currency for world trade after WWII. It signalled the US displacing the British economy as #1!!
Now that China’s about to pip the US economy, there are lots of speculation about the greenback also being replaced by the Chinese Yuan. How likely is this?? Well, whatever the argument for or against that, one thing your Eyewitness can say for sure – it ain’t gonna be happening anytime soon!! And while there are numerous reasons for saying that, he’s only gonna mention ONE – to be a reserve currency, most countries have to be willing to hold the currency.
But that’ll only happen if China runs a deficit with those countries – like the US having US$7 TRILLION foreign debt!! Ain’t gonna happen with China!!
…the environment
The kvetching from the Carbon Credits awarded because of our standing forests, that cover 85% of our landmass, continues from the woke brigade.
Since they live in foreign…why don’t they take the big bad oil companies to court??
