Cultural Empowerment these days
You-all must admire His Excellency’s Most Matured, Fit-And-Proper Gecom Chairman long-retired Justice Patterson now has to superintend historic national elections whether they are a consequence of Dr Jagdeo’s No Confidence Motion or not.
Whenever the elections are eventually held His Excellency’s Chairman – ably assisted by his CEO – retired soldier/officer Lowenfield – must deliver fair well-managed elections in the soon-to-be oil-producing nation. In 2020 there will be well-funded grand Republic Jubilee celebrations by February of that year. The first barrels of our oil will flow via ExxonMobil and its numerous associate companies. The Guyanese expectant citizens and the world will therefore have great interest in the elections. Those polls will deliver the governors and managers of a new national economic entity.
The preparations and execution of the next elections must be seen to be professionally done by hopefully neutral well-trained Election Officials. A pity our Elections Commission is populated by known “loyal” political representatives! (A must for Constitutional Reform!)
Because I know that His Excellency’s Gecom Chairman knows nothing about electoral malpractices or “rigging” and because out major political contestants boast of being confident of fair victories, I continue my series on rigging today.
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Vital officials, key players
As this series develops you-all will be invited to assist me to explore the appointments and roles of all Election personnel. Whatever your loyalty to which-ever Party!
Obvious key players? Since last week’s start on the issue of how elections were/are/could be rigged I did receive some suggestions, some speculation and a few actual experiences relevant to rigging.
Here are a few vitally-important players when elections are planned and executed: Minister of Citizenship (he oversees the General Register Office (GRO) – Births, new 18’s, deaths – (One gossip even called to “inform” me that the Citizenship Minister (Hon. Felix) and Gecom CEO (Ex-Officer Lowenfield) were once in the army together! So?
Communities Minister (Hon Bulkan) is also important to elections. His “communities” straddle the Regions which become Polling Divisions. He even has a say in demarcating Polling Boundaries. The Police Commissioner and his Divisional Commanders are key. Which ranks are sent to which Polling Place? The Police and Army vote one week before the national Election Day. Are the voters readily scrutinized?
Of course I must list His Excellency’s Gecom Chairman. His Excellency selected the retired Judge as most fit and proper after rejecting 18 options. Did His Excellency recall when both his own nomination and that of Justice Patterson were rejected in bygone days? The Chairman has six Party-friendly Commissioners. Then there is the powerhouse CEO – retired GDF officer Lowenfield – placed there when retired Major General Joe G. Singh tried his best with the Commission and its National Registration Centre. Later I’ll relate accurately what the Major-General-Chairman found out about techniques of rigging.
Of all the actual Polling Day Officials I suggest that observers and party agents must focus on the Polling Place’s Presiding Officers and the ten Divisions’ Returning Officers. Two powerful dudes! How are they chosen? Why were they chosen and appointed by the voter education officer of Officer Lowenfield’s Secretariat? If any malpractice or rigging takes place ask the Presiding Officer and the all-powerful Returning Officers. Details about the role of the latter as this series moves on.
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Rigging under PPP, recent technique(s)
Because I know that His Excellency’s Chairman would never condone any rigging under his watch I do this series.
PPP friends would not utter any “advice” about electoral mischief between 1997 and 2011. Obviously. But PNC sources repeated what Asgar Ally and Joe Hamilton once alleged: that Freedom House “manipulated” results out of the Tower Hotel through to the Commission itself. Little proof. Then I was “reminded” that the PPP brought two Trinidadian Brothers who allegedly were expert enough to access and alter results from Gecom’s computers! Tell me of more if you really know – with proof!
To conclude just today’s offering I won’t dwell on how a Party-friendly Polling Clerk can willfully mislead old voters or about one-time alpha-splits. But consider this: On Polling Day there could be legitimate imposters! What? Who? Well when over-18 citizens do not collect their National Identification Cards, friendly Registration Officials can “lend” specific voters to use them at specific polling booths. Those cards are then returned next day. Much more to come next Friday.
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Total National Defence vs peaceful protest
I agree. Our Brigadier President really defined his Commander-in-Chief’s Defence Policy and Programmes when addressing his officers at his Residence last week Thursday.
He mentioned his doctrine of “total national defence” which, he explained, implies that all the instruments of “national power” must be at the disposal of national security. His Excellency’s address should be studied and analysed by all serious-minded citizens. You need not be militarily-inclined. When a portion of our small young population is mobilized and entrusted with military skills under a particular administration, the implications can be many.
Patriotism should always trump political party. But couldn’t the more professional arms of “Total National Defence” – the Army, Police, Reserve Militia, Fire Service, National Cadet Corps – be used to suppress democratic non-violent protests against grievances? “Civil insurrections must be suppressed”, His Excellency warns. More later.
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Cultural development, empowerment?
Our culture is our way(s) of living; perhaps a daily celebration of being. Despite the copycat tendencies of our youth – mimicking the sound, looks and behaviours of other peoples, Guyana still has distinctive collective characteristics. The expression of our habits, beliefs, traditions, find various forms. Some local protagonists argue a strong, practical case for the promotion of “cultural industries.” That issue attracts a whole column.
So I settle now for just these questions: does the current “Culture Minister” have a cultural policy to guide his Department’s portfolio? And where are those cultural activists now – who often lambasted former Minister Frank Anthony?
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Ponder! Perfect!
1) Congrats to Culture Minister Norton on his significantly– improved budget for Mashramani/Republic celebrations this year.
2) How many hundreds of thousands were/are wasted on that incomplete Donkey-City site for the displaced Stelling vendors?
3) Quote of the week: “Australian-born Wilks spoke with a cut glass English accent and has previously worked for British energy interests. There were surreal moments when Bynoe surrendered control of the laptop so Wilks could swivel it towards him and take command of the skype conversation with the embassy audience. The optics of a white western oil advisor stepping in to field difficult questions that Bynoe struggled to handle spoke volumes.”
Til next week!
