Democracy on the move in Guyana

Oct 05, 2023 Letters

Dear Editor,

October 5 marks 31 years since the restoration of democratic rule to Guyana after twenty eight years of PNC dictatorial rule. During that period Guyana was reduced to one of the poorest countries in the western hemisphere.

The restoration of democratic rule was indeed a defining moment in the political life of the country. Under the slogan ‘Time to Unite: Time to Rebuild’ the PPP/C administration under the leadership of Dr. Cheddi Jagan began a process of economic and social reconstruction. The private sector was designated ‘the engine of growth’, an indication of the changing global dispensation due in large measure to the ending of the Cold War and the collapse of the world socialist system. The Soviet Union, which at one time was seen as the bastion of socialism ceased to exist as the country disintegrated into a number of independent states under the force of Glasnost (Opening) and Perestroika (Restructuring) implemented by the Gorbachev regime.

The restoration of democratic rule on October 5, 1992 has to be seen against the background of the changing international dynamics. Guyana under the PPP was no longer seen as a threat to United States security interests in the region. It is no secret that the United States and other western nations turned a blind eye to electoral fraud in Guyana under the Burnham regime mainly out of political/ideological considerations. All of that changed during the late 1980’s which saw a change in United States attitude towards Guyana in favour of democracy and human rights. The first indication of that changing attitude came in the late 1980’s when the George Bush administration called on the then Hoyte administration to restore democracy to the country. This was later followed up by President Carter and the Carter Centre which advocated for electoral reforms which included a new elections commission, an end to overseas voting and the counting of votes at the place of poll. This latter proposal was vehemently resisted by Desmond Hoyte who described such a move as a ‘logistical nightmare’. After much arm-twisting Hoyte finally agreed to the opposition demands.

By the early 1990’s the writing was on the wall for the PNC regime which had perpetuated its political rule through a combination of force and fraud. The October 5, 1992 elections produced the first democratically elected government since 1964. The PPP/C, as was widely anticipated, won a majority of the votes and was duly elected to the seat of power. And while credit must be given to the United States government for the role it played in the restoration of democracy to Guyana, the combined impact of civil society advocacy such as the independent media, the trade union movement, religious organizations, private sector organizations, the diaspora and the political opposition led by the PPP was no less significant.

The spectre of rigged elections again raised its ugly head in the March 2020 General and Regional elections when the APNU+ AFC coalition attempted to return itself to power through fraudulent means. However, such attempts were successfully thwarted through the combined efforts of the courts, especially the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ), the international community and other democratic forces in Guyana.

Democracy in Guyana is still evolving along the lines of greater inclusivity. The challenge before us is to find ways to further enrich our democracy along the lines of One Guyana as envisaged by President Dr. Mohamed Irfaan Ali. Our democracy is worth celebrating. We owe a debt of gratitude to all those who stood up for democracy in Guyana.

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