Dear Editor,
I am writing on behalf of the youths and the Kittitians and Nevisians who have similar questions. What happened in Guyana after the elections? Where were the results? Is this going to be a trend that the Caribbean will be following? No results until days after the elections? We must become more cooperative and responsible. We must not jeopardize people’s right to know. The world is watching us; the youths are still looking up to those who are older.
Now, let’s go back to February when the same thing happened in St Kitts and Nevis. We had leaders from other Caribbean islands jumping on the internet calling for a swift reading of the results, as they were “concerned that the region’s reputation for democracy and for free and fair elections will be under threat as long as this issue in St Kitts and Nevis remains unresolved.”
I understand that things were wrong, and we take full responsibility for what happened. I am sure that the new government is now working assiduously to right the wrongs. Many have been saying that this should not have happened because St Kitts and Nevis only has approximately 30,000 registered voters. The size doesn’t really matter, not when we have people contesting to run a country. We are all human beings and things happen. The Caribbean electoral systems need to be looked at again and be fixed immediately. They are failing the democratic nature of the region.
Okay, back to the recently concluded elections in Guyana. I want to say congratulations to the new President and his supporters; the people have spoken. They are now in charge of Guyana’s biggest business − all the best. I must say that the silence from the other Caribbean leaders on the late announcement of the results was appalling. When little St Kitts-Nevis had this same issue, a number of them were quick to make calls for an announcement to be made.
So, to all of the leaders who quickly opened their mouths on the St Kitts-Nevis elections; were you sleeping when the Guyana elections took place? Did you not ‘hear’ of similar cries from the people of Guyana? Did the size of Guyana and the number of voters prevent you from speaking? Are you siding with the argument that Guyana is not a part of the Caribbean but South America? Or were you just patiently waiting like the rest of us?
Maybe you all did address the situation and I stand to be corrected if that is the case. I await responses. Maybe the population of Guyana made it understandable for the preliminary results to be read three days after the poll as it is so huge.
If leaders are going to speak to one, they must speak to all.
Yours faithfully,Donya L Francis
Journalism Student
St Kitts Nevis