Is it really true? I mean, do Guyanese overseas really have the right to register and vote in the national general election? Is this already provided for in the constitution? Awsome. Amazing.
Then why is the government not taking the necessary steps to register overseas Guyanese to vote in the coming election? Why aren’t the political parties agitating for this? Why is GECOM not using its machinery to make it so? And most of all, why aren’t Guyanese overseas petitioning for their constitutional right?
No one can or ever has questioned their loyalty or commitment to their country of birth, irrespective of the fact that most have accepted the citizenship of another country. Deep down inside they are Guyanese to the core. It is an indisputable fact also that overseas Guyanese continue to account for more than one third of the GDP every year by way of remittances to family and friends, and as visitors bearing gifts, both on and off the books. Ask Mr Odeen Ishmael. Writing in the Guyana Journal of June 2009 he cited the Latin American and Caribbean Economic System which documented that Guyana received US$414M in remittances for the year 2008, representing 36.7 % of the GDP. Can you imagine what would happen to the economy and the lives of so many if Guyanese overseas stopped sending money to their relatives? I shudder to think what would happen.
That is why I ask that Guyanese overseas be given their constitutional right to vote and maybe made real stakeholders. In return, there will be an increase in remittances. More will be encouraged to pursue investment opportunities and with this will come technical skills, experience, better work ethics, emphasis on productivity drive and initiative. Guyana will benefit so much more from the lessons learnt in the developed world, lessons that have made Guyanese out-compete the born Americans, Canadians, British and others. In fact, those who locally have spent 20 years to acquire a house and car may be motivated to do so in less than 5 years.
Finally, there may be some fear that allowing Guyanese overseas to vote may threaten the jobs of residents, or may favour one political party. I don’t think so. First, they make far more money where they are. Why would they want to fight to work for such meagre salaries (no offence meant)? Second, in terms of political affiliation I would categorize most as non-partisan or independents. In fact, with that kind of overseas exposure they will eventually have a positive impact on the political culture, away from the current party and race-based politics that has stifled Guyana since the beginning. Please give overseas-based Guyanese their constitutional right to vote, show them that they are appreciated and needed, make them stakeholders in the country of their birth, and I am sure that our people and our country will be far better for it. It is time to do the right thing.
Yours faithfully,
Shawn Mangru
