With both the government and opposition committing to peacefully accepting the decision of the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) on the validity of last December’s no-confidence vote, US Ambassador to Guyana Sarah-Ann Lynch is hopeful that they will honour their commitments.
“I have been heartened in my short amount of time here that other political leaders, in government, the opposition, other political parties, also indicated that they will respect this ruling and there will be a peaceful reaction to it. So, I am hopeful that would happen and I would encourage all political parties and citizens to react in a peaceful way even if they disagree with the outcome,” Lynch said in an interview yesterday with reporters.
The CCJ is expected to settle appeals stemming from the passage of the opposition-sponsored no-confidence motion against the APNU+AFC government, which could possibly result in early elections.
During Lynch’s accreditation last month, she stressed that the United States will continue to encourage “genuinely free and fair elections… and a constitutional judiciary process” here. “During our long relationship with Guyana, we have witnessed significant progress. We have seen a strengthening of democratic processes and political institutions, along with broader political participation and citizen representation. Moving forward, we will continue to encourage genuinely free and fair elections, freedom of speech and assembly, multiparty representation, and a constitutional judiciary process,” the Ambassador said in comments just after she presented her credentials to President David Granger.
Yesterday she echoed these sentiments and informed that her country stands ready to help Guyana’s electoral process if it is asked and pending the availability of funding.
Lynch said that the US would not impose its help on any country and would await formal requests.
The US envoy was asked if the embassy was planning any support programmes similar to the 2015 ‘Vote like a Boss’ campaign and she reminded that Washington has not been engaged on any electoral help at this time. “We have not been engaged in anything like that just yet but we would be happy to have such discussions with the government if they are interested. The US works on elections issues across the globe and we do… elections observations, civic education and sometimes even helping countries set up debates if they are interested in something like that,” she said. “We are more than ready to support and assist, pending funding being available, as always. Yes, we are happy to enter into those discussions,” she added.
Lynch did highlight the importance of civic education as she thinks empowering persons to get actively involved in their own governance is key to seeing not only a democratic society but one where each is motivated to develop their country. “Civic education right now… how they vote, where they vote… I think you can never do enough of education,” she said.
The US Ambassador also addressed the issue of parliamentarians with dual citizenship and said it is an issue that Guyanese will have to ultimately decide. She added that if they want to see a change to the current constitution, it will have to start with them frontally addressing those issues. “That would be a decision for the Guyanese to make where they want to go. It might be an area that wants to be explored here because it was not explored before. I think it might be interesting, the conversation,… in terms of constitutional reform. I know there are models out there where dual citizens can partake in government political processes, even in an elective way, and models [where] they can’t. I think it would be for the people of Guyana to decide. I think what is needed is a healthy debate and it won’t be a bad idea,” she added.
The High Court and the Guyana Court of Appeal affirmed that dual citizens are not eligible to sit in parliament in keeping with Article 155 (1) (a) of the Constitution. That provision states, “No person shall be qualified for election as a member of the National Assembly who is, by virtue of his or her own act, under any acknowledgement of allegiance, obedience or adherence to a foreign power or state.”
