Some say we ought to be thankful for small mercies. Outside of the PPP fighting against dictatorship, fighting to ensure our democracy is not killed, there have been some encouraging signs from other stakeholders. Various private sector organisations have come out with forceful statements demanding Government adheres to the Constitution, urging respect for the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ). The ABCE countries have appealed for the Government to respect the Constitution, honour the rulings of the CCJ and sustain Guyana’s commitment to democracy. Some individuals, like Chris Ram, have gone beyond condemning the egregious violation of the Constitution and the disrespect for the CCJ, they have taken actions to resist. Mr Ram has vowed to boycott the illegal House-to-House Registration and has, in every instance, challenged the Government in Court. The PPP has not only sought redress in the Courts, but has resisted by public protests and taking their case to the international community.
But if open statements by some stakeholders are not accompanied by a commitment for action, these statements appealing for the Government to adhere to the Constitution and the rulings of the Court will be nothing but platitudes. Will the various private sector organisations stand up today and declare the Government will be an illegal government come September 18th? Unless they do so, their statements, as welcomed and helpful as they are, will be mere platitudes. APNU/AFC is not fazed by the statements because, in their minds, despite these statements, the stakeholders will simply carry on with business as usual come September 18.
The same can be said about the statements emanating from the ABCE countries. Their statements were substantial and contained the right sentiments. But what will the ABCE countries do if the Government continues their arrogance and their flagrant disregard for the Constitution and the CCJ? Are they prepared to put a hold for the various initiatives they are presently involved with? Are they prepared to withdraw and withhold visas to treat the Government as an illegal government?
Whether it is the private sector or international bodies or the ABCE countries, the time has come for more stringent action if we are truly interested in sustaining democracy in Guyana, if we are genuinely committed to resist dictatorship. It has been more than seven months since the Government has flagrantly been violating the Constitution – we are already living in a dictatorship. How long more will we wait for David Granger and APNU/AFC to finally behave as a democratic government? It is dangerous to wait for September 18. Since the ruling of the CCJ, the second iteration of the three-month period for elections is already 36 days gone. There are now only 54 days left for the election. Since nomination day has to be at least 32 days before the election, we have just 22 days left to dissolve Parliament and begin the claims and objections period to update the voters list. In the meanwhile, clearly taking instructions from APNU/AFC, Mr Lowenfield and his GECOM staff are not preparing for elections, illegally carrying on with activities, such as House-to-House Registration, in a long-term plan for rigged elections.
The Government is deliberately testing the resolve of everyone. They know they are violating the Constitution and know it is egregious and shameless to disrespect the CCJ. But they are counting on the sustained willingness of stakeholders, other than the PPP, to persist with platitudes and meaningless statements. The intent was always to buy time. Just like March 21st came and went, without any consequence, they fully expect September 18th to come and go. The only thing which will encourage APNU/AFC to do the right thing is consequence for their behaviour; they must not wait to see what those consequences will be. It is why all stakeholders must declare their intentions now, that the Government will be treated as illegal, with no recognition of the President, no recognition for the ministers, with a standstill of all internationally-supported programmes, with all agreements and contracts signed after September 18th deemed and treated as illegal. None of the stakeholders should leave any room for the Government to believe they will again be able to get away with their illegal actions, no room left for them to buy any more time.
All stakeholders must speak with a single voice that public officers, including the officers of GECOM, will be held accountable for illegal actions taken at the behest of an illegal government. This is where we have arrived and there is no room left for niceness.
