We must be thorough, decisive, and let the chips fall where they may

Dear Editor,
Our President Irfaan Ali-led Administration is swiftly moving to address essential matters of governance and to reverse many ills that the nation suffered in ways told and untold. Clearly, there is much to be addressed in moving the country forward, and in ensuring that no Guyanese is made to struggle in the dictatorial filth we found ourselves leading up to and post-March 2, 2020.
As we welcome the United States of America Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, Guyanese are indeed thankful to him and his ‘Good Office’, for their decisive role and highly appreciated interventions which aided a return of democracy in Guyana. This visit to our shores evidences a commitment of support for democratically elected Governments, establishes a platform for examination and removal of the weeds of discords, as well as the advancement of mutual developmental interests.
Understandably, matters of the ongoing budget would have assumed its pinnacled position on the priority list, since the last approval of appropriations was approximately two years ago. Lest we forget, albeit, providing $4.9 billion for the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) in this 2020 budget, it is necessary and most opportune to objectively look at a holistic review of GECOM. There is no doubt that the organisation’s demonstrated performance in the recent elections, lacks the required level of transparency and accountability which has diminished the national and country image.
Contributing factors included the fact that Mr Granger and the PNC did not care. They were living their good lives and had the benefit of their own experience and good memory, of the particular role the Chairman of the GECOM played in facilitating dangerous and biased activities of the staff since 1973. They did their best to appoint their own darling Chairman and appoint special staff at GECOM, leading to the tremendous damage of the face and soul of the organisation. We can no longer go forward in this way!
Today this nation still bleeds after the PNC-elected Commissioners at GECOM kept their ‘foot’ on our people’s throats for more than five long months. Their roles were consistently in conflict with our constitutional intent and suffocating of the will of the Guyanese people. The complicit admittance by the Chief Elections Officer that he had overseen fraudulent practices, as well as his attempts to disenfranchise over 115,000 legitimate voters is a travesty which demands the most detailed investigations.
The people of Guyana cannot continue to fund such contemptuous self-admitting fraudsters who may have succeeded, had it not been for the courts upholding the rule of law and the countering supportive roles played by the powerful Western diplomats in particular, and the international community at large. They stood firm in rejecting the abuse of our electoral system which clearly must be strengthened, and the necessary cleansing must be done with urgency along with the advancement of constitutional reforms. It is clear now how diplomats around the world can play a major role in solving ‘political’ issues in a peaceful way.
It was clear for all to see that the PNC with all their ‘rigging’ experience and bullying attitude, were hell-bent on stealing the 2020 elections in Guyana. They have proved to be a shameless bunch, who continue to demonstrate overwhelming measures of vengefulness with care and caution. Comparatively, it required the mature leadership of the PPP along with a total united embrace of the other contesting Parties to keep the peaceful struggle legal and effective. Never in the region and around the world has one witnessed such blatant and public attempt to steal the right to govern.
The consequences for such brutality must be decisive and deterring to those who have such clandestine interests in the future. This nation cannot afford to live through another 2020 episode with the current status of GECOM. Hence, the necessary changes must be made quickly so that we could have clean, free and fair elections. All the riggers and dishonest persons at GECOM must be made as examples so that the others must never attempt to do any cheating at elections.
It is known that since the December 21, 2018 passing of the No-Confidence Motion, the wicked rigging cabal started to perpetuate themselves in office. Their abuse of the Consolidated Fund was without restraint and it did not matter who suffered. It is, therefore, hoped that in the examination of these budget estimates, the facts and truth regarding constitutional and other breaches would expose the guilty parties.
I suggest that Mr Lowenfield should not be on the job after being charged and call for the strongest actions to be taken against the perpetrators including surcharging and garnishment, where these fall in the powers of the Assembly. In this unwarranted attack on the civility of our people, we must be thorough, decisive, and let the chips fall where they may.
Sincerely,
Neil Kumar