Every day since the December 21, 2018 No-Confidence Motion, GECOM has played an accomplice role in delaying elections and in overt voter frustration and voter suppression.
We still have a chance for free and fair elections because of the vigilance of the PPP/C under the leadership of Bharrat Jagdeo, the patience and determination of PPP supporters, advocacy of some private organisations— like the Private Sector Commission— a small part of the media, some independent voices. The amazing thing is the total silence of the small parties who dream about a third force.
Their silence renders them irrelevant. It has not escaped the attention of the Guyanese people that every time Guyana’s democracy is threatened, it has been the PPP in the forefront. It is hard, cold facts and no room for dispute. I am hopeful that among those interested in free and fair elections is the Chairperson of GECOM. It is this hope that gives rise to an iota of optimism that Justice Singh is on the side of free and fair elections.
One has to be deaf, blind and dumb not to see and speak out against a case of obvious voter frustration and suppression. GECOM has made some dramatic, unfathomable, changes in the list of polling places and polling stations for the March 2, 2020 elections. Clearly, GECOM’s motivation was not intended to make it easier, safer, and more comfortable for voters. The changes are obviously discriminatory.
In every case where the change in the polling place or polling station has been made more difficult, less accessible, less safe, less comfortable, these polling places and stations are in communities considered strongholds of the PPP/C. In those instances where changes have been made for easier access, where polling stations will have reasonable numbers of voters, it is in communities considered strongholds of APNU/AFC.
There is a plot, there is no need for me to be diplomatic— I will call a spade a spade. GECOM’s Chairperson must explain why I am wrong, why the majority of Guyanese are wrong, why the PPP is wrong to ascribe sinister motives for what is now clearly a discriminatory allocation of polling places – one that makes it easier for supporters of APNU/AFC and one that is designed to create maximum difficulties and chaos for supporters of the PPP/C.
If ever there is unequivocal evidence for voter suppression this is it. The madam Chair must speak out now, not allowing her Secretariat to drag her down the rigging plank.
In a separate missive published in several sections of the media over the last several days, I highlighted instances of discriminatory changes, changes that make polling places and stations less accessible, less safe, creating major discomfort and security problems for both voters and officials.
The media over the last several days have highlighted several more of these changes. In Eccles, for example, voters will now vote under tents, one of which will be located in a cow pasture with major difficulties for the elderly and for people who may be physically challenged. In every instance where a troublesome change has been made, it is in strongholds of the PPP. In every instance where a polling place change improved security, accessibility comfort for voters and officials, it is in a stronghold of APNU/AFC. Clearly, the GECOM Secretariat is taking the Chair “for a ride”.
For the observer teams, they must not wait to play a post-mortem role. They need to work with all participants to ensure any process of rigging or giving an advantage to one side or the other must be nipped at the bud. They must upfront address this matter of biased polling place allocation. Choosing silence at this time is diminishing their effectiveness as a watchdog to guarantee free and fair elections.
The Carter Center has always played a key role in Guyana’s elections since 1992. They are credited with enabling a process that led to Guyana’s first free and fair elections after Independence in 1966.
It is comforting they are here and playing an active role. Supposedly, Justice Singh indicated replacement of many private properties as polling places was a recommendation made by the Carter Center. The Carter Center has been used as a scapegoat for this clearly sinister move. They cannot remain silent, for silence, in this case, is being an active collaborator.
If they did make the recommendation, which I could not find in their 2015 report, they need to say if their recommendation suggested a policy of non-utilisation of private properties only in PPP strongholds and if their recommendation suggests removal even if the replacements are less secure, less accessible, less comfortable. If they did, then they are in Guyana not for free and fair election.
One encouraging sign through all the machinations to make it difficult for voters who support one political party is the majority of Guyanese people are so determined and so angry that their rights are being trampled, they will still overcome the difficulties, even if the polling places are located in Timbuktu.
