Dear Editor,
The recent announcement by retired Brigadier David Granger that he is a contender for the presidential candidacy of the PNC has caused reactions in the press both positive and negative.
The negative reactions attempt to contaminate the retired officer with blame for the army’s role in the 1973 general election at which the PNC was awarded a two- thirds majority.
I was not in the GDF at the time of the 1973 election and therefore have no direct knowledge of the goings on. I served in the GDF at the time of the 1968 election. The GDF was commanded by Col Ronald Pope, a British Officer seconded to head of the GDF.
I was a platoon commander responsible for the safe conduct of ballot boxes from Crabwood Creek along the Corentyne Coast to police sub-divisional headquarters at Whim where I handed over to Second Lieutenant Godwin McPherson.
There was no incident. No soldier under my command touched any ballot box or obstructed any election official. In fact, villagers cheered us along to “car dem down safe” or words to that effect.
The GDF was commanded by a Guyanese officer in 1973. My only comments on the 1973 army operation are that the army does not operate in isolation but on the basis of intelligence reports and soldiers are given orders and information on a need to know basis. The army is not a democracy.
I would further state my opinion that there never has been, and there does not now exist in Guyana, any political party by itself capable of obtaining a two-thirds majority at a free and fair election.
Those who complain about massive rigging of past elections should ponder that the PNC’s two- thirds majority was used to extend the life of Parliament, set up a referendum (which most Guyanese persist in calling a ‘referandom’), sweep away the checks and balances in the Independence constitution and create the executive presidency.
The PPP promised to reverse some of the above including reducing the powers of the president if it won the 1992 election.
Some may argue that its failure so to do in a major way, constitutes condonation of what the PNC had done.
There have been tinkerings here and there with the 1980 constitution including the virtually impossible-to-implement provision for concurrence on the appointments of chancellor and chief justice. All the executive powers of the state continue to devolve on the president.
If the parties agree to dismantle the executive presidency and return to the Independence constitution they would redress a historic wrong done to the Guyanese people.
There would be no need for apologies and inquiries. The alien presidential term limit will have to go. The chancellor and the chief justice, if there is still need for both, will be appointed after meaningful consultations.
Let us return to the Independence constitution with a titular president.
Yours faithfully,
Winston Moore
