Dear Editor,
The decision by the three Commissioners appointed by the ruling coalition not to attend a meeting with representatives of the Carter Center does not bode well for the future of democracy in Guyana. According to media reports, the reason advanced by one Commissioner for not participating in the meeting was that the Carter Center is a private body and therefore seen as an unnecessary intrusion in the internal affairs of a sovereign nation.
This raises the spectre of ‘a ghost from the past’ when foreign observers to our electoral processes were regarded as ‘unwelcome’ visitors and in some instances were beaten and harassed. Those were the days of when the will of the people were thwarted by undemocratic elections. One consequence of the above situation was a breakdown of the political and moral fabric of the country and a crisis of confidence in the then administration.
It would appear from the manner in which both the current administration and GECOM are behaving that we are on the verge of going down that road once again.
One can only hope that good sense will prevail and the good of the country is placed above narrow partisan interests.
The international community and other stakeholders such as the Carter Center have a decisive role to play in safeguarding our democracy. Too much is at stake especially given our emerging oil and gas economy. The country cannot be allowed to drift into a state of political instability which could have a negative impact on the economic and social well-being of the Guyanese people.
Yours faithfully,
Hydar Ally
