Latest update March 28th, 2024 12:59 AM
Feb 25, 2015 Editorial
Every time elections come around there is a large measure of conflict and confusion. Almost inevitably there are complaints about the electoral roll, the conduct of the polls, and the use of the media.
One would have expected that a country with a population no larger than a small town would have been able to have all these issues sorted out.
However, Guyana has unfortunately developed into a land of perpetual disagreement.
Ever since 1964, one political party or the other has been complaining about the elections. Of course the complaints did not begin prior to the elections, they came after the incumbent felt cheated at having to leave office, although it secured the most votes at the polls.
No election since then has escaped criticism. There have been claims of rigging, disenfranchisement, terror tactics, and of course, padded voters’ lists. Today, more than 50 years later, nothing has changed.
Over the years we have seen changes in the composition of the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM), but even this has done nothing to eradicate the complaints. And with each election comes an unsettling feeling. The fear is that any semblance of disorder could severely set us back.
Already there is a paucity of foreign investors. At the same time migration is so great that Guyana has lost most of its skilled people, particularly those who obtained a tertiary education, over the past few decades.
Had this not been a sovereign state, few could have faulted the people for calling for outside help, to manage the elections. Those with influence do not seem to respect our own enough to let them effectively carry out their functions. Every effort to reduce conflict is neutralized by provocative comments. It is as if some politicians are hell-bent on confusion at every turn.
Indeed, the government has not been without blame. It has refused legitimate calls by the opposition on the grounds that the opposition wanted to run the country from the back seat. It has also accused the main political opposition, in the not too distant past, of trying to gain power through the back door.
Despite all such confrontations, however, we have been experiencing in recent times, conscious efforts to ensure a peaceful atmosphere. The 2011 elections provided a lot to be admired in this regard.
We believe that GECOM is doing its best to ensure the smooth conduct of the upcoming elections.
It is heartening, for instance, that there is an insistence that new mechanisms must be developed to remove the names of persons who would have passed away and can no longer be part of the country’s voting process. According to Chief Elections Officer Keith Lowenfield, “The matter is being addressed…We have drafted a methodology to operationalise ways to remove the deceased (from the list).” A small but significant step in the right direction.
And Chairman Dr. Steve Surujbally has given assurances that the commission will do nothing to compromise any election.
He also boasted that the Commission has a process of employment which ensures that staffers are 100% screened, and that they would be informed in no uncertain terms that they must not be compromised, and have to put partisan politics aside for loyalty to GECOM.
Media operatives were urged to be fair and accurate in their reporting.
But of course there are issues beyond GECOM’s control. Come election time, many of those who did not take the time to register will create problems for the wider society. There will be yet another set of acrimonious claims. And we could do without these.
Dr. Surujbally’s wish for a smooth process is encapsulated by the following utterance: “We want an election that is peaceful; we want an election that is not scandalous. An election is the single most important tile in the mosaic of democracy; hence, it is important to note that GECOM’s team will do nothing to negatively affect the conduct of elections.” It is indeed the single most important tile.
THIS IDIOT TELLING GUYANA WE HAVE NO SAY IN THE 50% PROFIT SHARING AGREEMENT WE HAVE WITH EXXON.
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