Latest update March 29th, 2024 12:59 AM
Oct 22, 2010 Features / Columnists, Peeping Tom
Elections are due in Guyana next year. Election year always brings with it apprehensions about security, especially for the business community which suffered losses in the aftermath of elections in 1992, 1997 and 2001. In 2006 there was relative calm but there was some fear that things could again turn ugly.
It is a cycle that needs to be broken. The business community must not continue to suffer simply because of political instability which can rear its head in the election period.
The attacks on the business community: the looting and torching of properties sets Guyana back and is not good for our democracy.
But when political protests get ugly it is not just the victims that suffer. When you lose an election and refuse to accept the results even though it was clear that you lost those elections, and when you choose to engage in protests which spiral into violence and mayhem, then it is inevitable that you will not be forgiven for your actions. Ground will be lost that will not be easily regained.
The main opposition party in Guyana has seen its support in the last elections dwindle to 35%. Given the memory that still exists about what happened during and after political protests, that support is not likely to improve in next year‘s elections, which can lead to further frustration and problems.
For the private sector, there must be concerns about peace and stability. After all, it is the private sector that suffered the most from 1992 to 2006, because of political instability.
The private sector has taken massive losses and therefore they must decide on a strategy to ensure that come next year there will be no problems.
They may choose to place their hopes in the fair conduct of the elections. Last year, it was the ordinary workers of Guyana who saved the day by bringing off a good election.
These workers who were polling officials and clerks and scrutineers, ensured that things went smoothly and thus avoided controversy with the results. There were checks and balances, oversight and penalties if regulations were not adhered to. These allowed for things to run smoothly and the easy transmission of results.
However, the experience in Guyana has always been that it is very easy to foment problems. The main opposition in Guyana, for example, must have known that it lost the 1997 elections.
It would have had the results of the polling stations from its various agents, and it must have known that it lost those elections. Yet this country went through a torrid period of protests resulting in injury and destruction of property.
In as much, therefore, as the private sector in Guyana would like to place its faith in the fair and efficient conduct of elections, there are provocateurs, among all parties, who can stir troubles.
The private sector must take assertive steps to protect their investments. These investments have grown over the years: there are billions to be lost if there is political instability.
The private sector must, therefore, seriously consider what role it is going to play to ensure that there are no disruptions and that, as in 2006, the will of people is respected and the country can move forward.
Any political instability come next year is going to cause a permanent loss of confidence in Guyana, from which we will not recover.
The people of Guyana will suffer as will the country’s private sector. As such the private sector cannot allow a situation to develop whereby political instability is threatened by acts of violence and mischief.
We need a second consecutive election marked by peace and stability to demonstrate that we have matured as a nation.
And those with vested interests in ensuring this stability; those with the financial power should use that power to ensure that things go smoothly because when it does not, it is they who suffer.
All stakeholders must signal very clearly that they would like to see everything done – including swamping Guyana with international observers – to ensure that we have a free and fair poll.
They should also make it clear that they are opposed to any actions that seek to settle political differences through violence or through attacks in third parties.
The private sector has the financial clout now to let the politicians understand that the business community in Guyana is no longer prepared to be timid.
The business community should mobilize itself to ensure that Guyana moves forward and not backward after the next elections.
THIS IDIOT TELLING GUYANA WE HAVE NO SAY IN THE 50% PROFIT SHARING AGREEMENT WE HAVE WITH EXXON.
Mar 29, 2024
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