Dear Editor,
The huge problem facing the Opposition and its fringe elements is that they really do not have a legal leg on which to stand when it comes to the next general elections. They fully well know what would be their fate when that time comes.
Seeing they cannot stop the holding of a free, fair, and credible process, they turn and do the next PNC thing: try to create confusion or some degree of uncertainty in the holding of that process.
They are, at the present moment, concocting a new and untried process of biometrics and electronic voting; something that cannot – I repeat: cannot – be done in the short timeframe between now and the next election.
We are talking about voter education for GECOM staff itself, as well as the entire voting population out there. The purchase of election equipment must also be taken into account, among other things.
A credible election held by the method they are advocating is not feasible, and cannot be done at this time. So, in their confused state, they want to bring the entire electoral process into disrepute, and are now trying to claim that the presence of other nationalities, such as Bangladeshis and Venezuelans in particular, might be possible additions to a PPP/C voting tally.
To answer that question, we quote the law, which states that Commonwealth peoples who have lived and worked in Guyana for the period of one year are eligible to vote, other nationalities are also eligible on the attainment of two years being domiciled here.
So, what’s the problem? Frankly speaking, there is none, but the PNC persists in bringing that age-old PNC act of deception that the other nationalities would be the cause for a PPP victory. Well, like I said, the law dismisses that claim, as well as any act of intimidation or forceful blockage of someone from voting. These also constitute criminal acts.
On the objection of foreign nationalities voting in an election in Guyana, let us do a short investigation of the subject. Let us begin with the question “What If”. What if the Haitians who came here in the hundreds did remain on our soil, would the PNC have objected to them being here? Would they have objected to them taking part in our election? The answer is no, there would not have been an objection; because, in the eyes of the Opposition, the Haitians were a potential reservoir from which votes could have been sourced.
Nigel Hughes would have made out a strong case for his party. In fact, the matter was litigated by the Opposition, and the man who claims to be in constant contact with his ancestors held sway with that argument. After all, why shouldn’t our Haitian brothers and sisters not have a permanent place with their Guyanese African brothers and sisters here?
The argument was sound, and won the judgement of a court.
However – and this is the crucial point – the Haitians who came never stayed here, therefore the grand plan of the PNC backfired on them. The Haitians were more interested in the lucrative position abroad, one of which is the oldest profession in Brazil, their preferred destination. It all fitted in with the argument Government had put forward in court and lost.
So, where are the Haitians? Answer: They are hosted in Brazil, locked out of the voting rights here in Guyana, and that is a heavy loss for the PNC. As we say in Guyanese Creole, that loss “bun dem.”
So the only option left them is to come up with a plan to debar Bangladeshis and Venezuelans from voting, because they pose a threat to the PNC. But like I said, once someone has fulfilled the requirements of registration to be here, then why can’t they vote?
Respectfully,
Neil Adams
