Dear Editor,
After 33 days of gruelling mental and physical draining, the final ballot box was recounted for the 2nd March, 2020 General and Regional Elections. The count showed the PPP/C winning by a margin in excess of 15,000 votes ahead of its closest rival, the APNU/AFC.
All Guyana breathed a sigh of relief, despite the delayed completion of the GECOM tabulation process due to the sudden acting up of the NCN system. The embattled RO Mingo’s contentious District # 4 recount tabulation was certified on the 9th of June, 2020, thus ending the GECOM National Recount process.
GECOM CEO Mr Keith Lowenfield, having received the certified results of all ten Districts, is required only to do the math and submit the report to the seven-member Commission. Five days are much too long, it is not hypersonic science. He has to be closely watched, for he has earned a reputation of being very devious and untrustworthy.
The nation anxiously awaits the declaration from Madam Chairperson, retired Justice Claudette Singh. The speedy swearing in of President-elect Dr Mohamed Irfaan Ali is of paramount importance. The formation of the legitimate Government, with Prime Minister- elect Brigadier Mark Phillips and the operationalising of the Parliament, is a necessity.
All Guyanese at home and abroad and the international community look forward for nothing less. It is time to move on with haste. It has been a long and arduous battle for the restoration of lawfulness in our dear land.
After publicly acknowledging defeat immediately following the passing of the historic No Confidence Motion on the 18th November, 2018, Caretaker President Granger reneged and refused to call the elections in the constitutionally stipulated three months’ time frame. Ever since, Guyana was plunged into a state of anarchy and depredation as perpetrated by the Granger-led APNU/AFC Administration. Uncertainty and despair permeated the order of the day.
They continued to squat in office, in denial of the fact that they had lost the right to govern, and wreaked havoc on the Constitution; and at the same time, the economy spiralled downwards. The pain, the anxiety and the trauma inflicted on the Guyanese nation had become unbearable. People’s lives have been severely disrupted, they are at a tipping point. Widespread uncertainties gripped the nation as to the way forward.
The economy is in crisis proportions and needs immediate fixing. We are in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic that requires mature collective efforts to withstand its ravages. The Granger outfit held on to power with disdain and anger meted out to the people. We have recently marked our fifty-fourth Independence Anniversary, but, at this time, one can safely say that we are starting all over again.
Sunday 7th June, 2020 can be viewed as a day of reckoning for the people of this nation, when the GECOM wrapped up its National Recount of votes cast at the 2020 General and Regional Elections, ushering in a new era. Hats off to all that stood up against the tyranny that has plagued this land since November, 2018. There is now renewed hope for Guyana.
The nonsensical objections are a misuse of the Observation Report in the GECOM National Recount of votes cast at the 2020 elections. It is a blatant attempt to delay the inevitable and inflict more suffering on the peace-loving people of this dear land of Guyana. The Granger cabal acted with impunity, and showed no remorse for the very people they claim to be representing. They only shamed and disgraced their own supporters, and have now become onerous burdens within the structure of the PNC and need to be replaced urgently.
The inaction, the deafening silence and the questionable decisions made at times by the GECOM Chairperson, retired Justice Claudette Singh, traumatised the Guyanese nation and attracted widespread criticism. She did not only stand idly by, but looked the other way and allowed District # 4 RO, Mr. Mingo, to commit fraud. She sadly missed a glorious opportunity to do good for Guyana. Madam Chairperson needs to make amends, and do it fast. The decision she made to support the inclusion into the recount of the ballot boxes coming from the East Coast of Demerara that were only sealed with the ballots inside is very much commendable and augurs well for the final declaration.
There may be court challenge by the incumbent APNU/AFC to stop the process, but the Judiciary is expected to issue orders consistent with the Constitution.
With the new Government soon to be in office, the democratic institutions will be allowed to function outside of party paramountcy and political underpinnings. The racial tensions spurred and fuelled by Granger’s belligerent and arrogant PNC operatives will subside as Guyana looks to a future of peace and calm and equal opportunities for all.
It is hoped that the likes of Dr. David Hinds, Eric Phillips, Lincoln Lewis and the others would tone down their nasty racist rhetoric, which is hurting the people of their race rather than helping them, and serves no good to anyone. People will once more be allowed to survive on their own free will and move on with their lives. A functional democracy is eagerly awaited.
Respectfully,
Parasram Persaud
