Dear Editor,
Nowhere in the Amerindian community of Capoey, can anyone be found who will declare unequivocally that the July 28, 2015 election was free or that the results represented the will of the people. The first election was held on July 21, 2015 between Melrose Henry and Esther Rodrigues after a list of 292 eligible voters was compiled and posted at the place of poll, in accordance with the Amerindian Act of 2006,which ought to be followed by the returning officer.
When polling day dawned on July 21, 194 voters turned up to cast their votes for their respective candidates; 98 voters abstained from voting for some reason or the other, and at the close of poll the returning officer and staff began the tallying of votes cast. Each of the two contestants got 97 votes and the election was declared a tie. According to the 2006 Amerindian Act, whenever, there is a tie another election will have to be held within 7 days. The next election was set for July 28, at the same venue by the returning officer.
On the morning of voting 7 new names were allegedly added to the original voters list, which now consisted of 299 voters, instead of the 292 registered voters. The villagers strongly opposed the addition of these 7 names to the voters list since they did not belong to Capoey.
The returning officer proceeded and is alleged to have allowed the 7 voters to cast their votes although the 2006 Act prohibited them from doing so; the only way such people are allowed to vote at these elections is if they are on study leave, seeking medical treatment or are employed outside the village for 3 years and over. Allowing them to vote, however, broke the tie, and one source told me that at the moment the village is split in half. What has happened has completely destroyed the foundations of democracy.
The Amerindian Act of 2006 is likely to be lifeless if it is seen by the people as an instrument to be operated by others while their only role is limited; they may criticize the returning officer for allegedly allowing these 7 voters to be added to the list at the last moment, but they do so as spectators.
They are calling on Minister of Amerindian Communities, Mr Allicock, to launch an early investigation into the conduct of this election urgently.
Yours faithfully,
Mohamed Khan
