Dear Editor,
From the inception, we said that the Local Government Elections 2018, would be a rehearsal for the 2020 Regional and National Elections. When we made this projection, we really had in mind, largely, our preparations, including, the structures, mechanisms and strategies that would be utilized as a political party. We did not take into account the conduct of the other contesting political parties.
Well, what transpired on Nomination Day has certainly opened our eyes to a new vista: the skullduggery of the APNU and the AFC.
Nomination Day provided hundreds of documented and irrefutable incidents of electoral irregularities, illegalities and manipulations of varying and various manifestations. Dozens of lists of names and signatures, purporting to be backers of candidates, were palpably defective because of forgeries. These lists contained the names of deceased persons, persons who never existed and persons whose names were placed there without their knowledge and authority or through some fraudulent means or methods. Many of the lists, containing candidates contesting the elections, were similarly afflicted. Both the APNU and the AFC are implicated and these incidents occurred by the dozens in almost every Region.
All manner of stories were conjured up and concocted by the intellectual authors of these wicked electoral designs to get persons names on these lists. The stories varied from community to community. In some communities, persons were told that they were signing a petition to get new roads and street lamps in their villages. In others, persons were informed that they were signing application forms to become members of Community Policing Groups (CPG). While in others, signatures were extracted under the pretext that they are application forms for house lots, farmlands, applications for Justices of the Peace and Commissioners of Oaths to Affidavits. Some of these persons, who are known supporters of the PPP, were told that it was the PPP lists of candidates that they were endorsing. In one locality in the lower Corentyne, a public officer was dismissed one day and promised his job back the next, if he was able to get names to fill up a backers list in the predominant PPP area of Crabwood Creek. In this melee, only one allegation of irregularity was made against a PPP list.
Of course, each of these transactions is being documented and drawn to the attention of the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM), via both the Returning Officers, throughout the country, and the Chief Election Officer. Additionally, our Commissioners have apprised the Commission, itself. We are currently pursuing rectification. When this process is completed, we intend to emphatically press the Chief Election Officer to ensure that these matters are reported to the Police for thorough investigations and the institution of criminal charges, where necessary. In some cases, staff of GECOM, including, some Returning Officers, are implicated in these wrongdoings. They are to be included in the investigations, as well.
GECOM is constitutionally empowered to administer and manage elections fairly, impartially and professionally in Guy-ana. Any officer of GECOM who acted or acts unfairly, partially and unprofessionally will be reported to GECOM with a recommendation that the complaints against them be investigated and if found guilty, these staff members must be charged, if possible, but most importantly, must be banned from working at GECOM for life.
At the end of this process, a dossier needs to be prepared documenting each of these electoral irregularities and circulated widely, locally, in the diplomatic community, regionally and internationally. This is one sure way of informing the world that the PPP is pitted against electoral contestants, who are either incapable, or simply not prepared to go to elections fairly and in accordance with the established laws and democratic practices.
If persons implicated in these skullduggeries are placed before the criminal courts it would be a great deterrent to others, who may be encouraged to commit similar acts in the future. The banishment of staff by GECOM of those whose conduct has been impugned will have a similar effect.
The above, notwithstanding, the PPP and its supporters cannot afford to become complacent. We must accept the fortunate or unfortunate reality that we have to bear the burden of ensuring that there are free and fair elections in Guyana; we have to bear the burden of ensuring that there is democracy in Guyana; we have to bear the burden of ensuring that there is justice and freedom according to law, in Guyana.
It is a burden, nay a legacy, that we have inherited from our Political Father, Dr. Cheddi Jagan. It is a duty that we have to continue to discharge in his name and glory. The day we relinquish this responsibility, it will mark the end of freedom and democracy in Guyana. 2020, will present us with our sternest test. The follow-ing words scribed by Dr. Jagan over 50 years ago, have lost neither their context, nor their accuracy, with the passage of time:
“What I am certain about is that if elections were held tomorrow, we would win an overall majority. However, I must state my fears about future prospects for democracy and freedom. As the government loses more support from its rank and file disillusioned supporters, it will resort to force and fraud to remain in power…” (Dr. Cheddi Jagan, 1967)
These words were as relevant then, as they are now, and they certainly will be come, 2020!
Yours faithfully,
Anil Nandlall