Silence, non-involvement are tools that permit and acquiesce with injustice

Dictatorships are only possible because too many people prefer silence and to pretend it is not their business. Without any exception, injustices become entrenched in countries where dictatorships are allowed to blossom. Often, people justify their silence in the face of dictatorships as an option to reduce divisiveness, claiming non-involvement, not speaking out, not taking sides, being neutral, and contributing to healing the nation. It is a cop out. Injustices flourish in the presence of silence; those who choose silence aid and abet dictatorships.
In the face of injustice, in the face of a Government clearly abrogating the Constitution and the law, blatantly disregarding the Courts, illegally holding on to power— the exact scenario as exists in Guyana today— silence is the ally of the oppressors. Both silence and non-involvement aid and abet the oppressors to subjugate people and entrench injustices; both promote divisiveness, neither contribute to healing.
The appointment of the GECOM Chair is a matter of importance to every Guyanese citizen. The Constitution provides for a Chairman chosen through a consensual mechanism— the Leader of the Opposition widely consults with civil society and submits six names to the President who chooses one of those persons. The President could actively engage the Leader of the Opposition in removing and adding names, but the list ultimately is one composed by the Leader of the Opposition. One year ago, the President decided he wanted a person totally subservient to him and he appointed such a person arbitrarily, rejecting eighteen names of distinguished Guyanese submitted by the Leader of the Opposition. On June 18, the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) ruled the President acted in breach of the Constitution.
After the ruling, the President promised to comply with the CCJ ruling and with the Constitution. He had a meeting with the Leader of the Opposition on July 4 and announced they had agreed on a process, including informal discussions around the names previously submitted by the Leader of the Opposition. On July 12, he accused the Leader of the Opposition as acting in bad faith by submitting for informal consideration eleven of the previous eighteen names. The President ignored he inappropriately submitted a list of eight names of persons clearly linked politically to the PNC. But he promised he was willing to appoint someone by Monday July 15. In response, the Leader of the Opposition signalled in writing and orally his preparedness to meet anytime during the weekend, even multiple times in a day, so they can come to a consensus. Monday came and went and the President did not convene a single meeting with the Leader of the Opposition.
We must call a spade a spade. Clearly, the President wants his man or his lady to be the Chairman, someone who will act in accordance with his and APNU/AFC/PNC whims and fancies. This is entirely a strategy designed to, first, delay the elections beyond September 18 and, second, to rig the elections. In the entire sordid affair, the President and APNU/AFC have acted without integrity, with bad faith, and with total arrogance. It is not about taking sides, it is about people raising their voices, about people resisting wrong-doings. Those who remain silent— and there are too many who chose this option— are contributing to the mockery of the CCJ, to the violation of the Constitution, and the rigging of our elections.
The same silence, the same non-involvement, make possible the other breaches of the Constitution. Having been defeated in Parliament since December 21, having lost their futile bid to avoid an election, they claim they respect and honour the rulings of the CCJ, they claim adherence to the sanctity of the Constitution. They disown the role of a caretaker Government, claiming they are an interim Government, with all the powers of a duly-elected Government. The Constitution is clear – Government, in this period, is only engaged in active preparation for an imminent election and in ensuring routine activities like security and paying public servants. Activities like Cabinet meetings, convening parliaments, Cabinet outreaches, etc. are not part of the functions of a caretaker Government. Yet, the Granger-led APNU/AFC and their sycophants, like David Hinds, want everyone to think it is business as usual.
The CCJ made it clear for anyone who might have misconstrued the Constitution. The Government must resign, Cabinet no longer exists, there is a caretaker Government only, and elections must be held on or before September 18. But the Government is acting as if it is oblivious of these obligations. It is acting as a dictatorship, clearly carrying out an overt coup d’état. In the meanwhile, their apologists and sycophants are vigorously spreading hate. The Opposition party and others, mostly ordinary citizens, are fighting this dictatorship. But while many people quietly admit Granger and APNU/AFC are up to no good, determined to entrench a dictatorship, they are silent, claiming they do not want to further polarise our country. Most of the ones who chose silence are good people. But it is these good people who are aiding and abetting injustice in our country.