Remembering the sparkles in your eyes on E-Day

Dear Editor,
A post in a popular social media group appeared this morning – “many guesses what may transpire today!” I listened to Timothy Jonas on Sunday and I got hope. I read Freddie K. on Monday morning and I was deflated. I wrote my comment.
At the end of the day, it’s all up to the Chair, the Honourable Justice Claudette Singh; she holds the future of Guyana in the palms of her hands.
Should it have come down to this? That’s a debate for another day.
Madam Justice Claudette Singh has been unpredictable all along. She does not appear to be executing her mandate, or doing what is in the best interest of her country; at least not initially, or she would have gone back to the Statement of Polls, tabulated them, and declared the legal winner; but her silence speaks volume.
We get it: She is in a tough spot, and is trying her best to play the nasty political game by clearly seeming to be partial to one institution. Nevertheless, at this juncture, she afforded us a semi-transparent recount completed within a reasonable period of time.
Throughout her journey, Justice Singh has been fighting her demons. She likes a good legal battle for sure; so, if you can bring a good legal argument, she MAY side with you. If she is FORCED by the court, she would oblige. If she can legally get away with what she wants, she would grab the opportunity and run with it.
And don’t forget: Justice Singh is not afraid of anything, as she is a godly woman.
She seems proud that she ran a good election on E-Day, and seems proud of the team she led. It was no doubt hard work, and her efforts and those of the entire GECOM community did not go unrecognised by any political party, local or international observer, or the citizens of Guyana. We were all proud of E-Day and the voting process.
Justice Singh also takes the franchise seriously. She does not like to disenfranchise voters for the hell of it, hence her last ruling to include the 29 boxes. She sang the tune, “Every vote must count”, but also broke the record when she went back on her words, “Those who allege must prove”.
So, does she throw each party a bone now and then? Absolutely! Will she throw the biggest bone to the Opposition and country, which they have legally earned since December 2018? I still can’t say for sure. She will look to the Caricom scrutineers for some comfort, and she will get it.
What I do know is that Madam Chair definitely cannot declare the incumbent the winner; there are no numbers supporting this position. So what are her options? She would have to either declare for the Opposition or nothing. Will she hang on to the tread that a “dagger” still lies over the heads of the people, given false doubts on credibility, which have been intensified by the incumbent, and the alternate reality conjured up by them?
Madam Chair, I ask that you do not be fooled by this alternate reality. It is the nature of the beast. It is always the case with any election. You cannot make everyone happy. There are graceful leaders who accept defeat, reflect on their mistakes, and come back stronger to win the people’s hearts.
The incumbent cannot ‘see their way’, but as a godly woman, you have been empowered to force them down this path. USE IT. Do not conclude that the election is inconclusive. Do not let the court force you to declare the lawfully elected president. It will not sit well in the long haul.
Madam Chair, I ask that you go back to that very sacred day in your heart and in your mind, when you knew you had run one of the best elections the world had ever seen.

Warmest regards,
Bibi Ramdayal