Expressing concern about the call by Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo for PPP supporters to not participate in the ongoing house-to-house registration exercise, the Guyana Trades Union Congress (GTUC) has warned that such action is unlawful and could have negative consequences.
The GTUC has also called on the government and opposition to come together with other national stakeholders, consistent with Article 13 of the Constitution. “This would allow to chart a way forward in securing a system of governance that would include all in the decision-making and allow equitable distribution of the national pie,” it said in a statement yesterday.
Article 13 states that “The principal objective of the political system of the State is to establish an inclusionary democracy by providing increasing opportunities for the participation of citizens, and their organisations in the management and decision making processes of the State, with particular emphasis on those areas of decision-making that directly affect their well-being.”
The house-to-house registration exercise has reinforced the nation’s political divide, with some parties in support and other bitterly opposing the process as it would impact the timeline for elections that are now necessary following the passage of a no-confidence motion against the government. Attorneys for chartered accountant Christopher Ram yesterday filed an injunction seeking to halt the registration exercise, with PPP executive Anil Nandlall being the lead lawyer.
In its statement prior to the filing of the injunction, the GTUC expressed concern at Jagdeo’s call for PPP supporters to boycott house-to-house registration.
“This action that has the potential to delay and disenfranchise would not be consistent with a call for early elections or realising the rulings of the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ). We remind this nation of the CCJ’s ruling for free, fair and credible election which can only result if the process from the very beginning to the very end is credible. The right to vote, which is the most precious act of every citizen to guarantee his/her participation in having a say in and shaping the development of the country of his/her birth or adoption, is sacred,” the statement said.
The GTUC reminded that throughout history and over the world people have fought and died for the right to vote. It highlighted the role of Guyanese such as Hubert Nathaniel Critchlow, Dr Cheddi Jagan and Forbes Burnham in the fight for universal adult suffrage, which was achieved in 1953.
Against this backdrop, it urged Jagdeo to rethink his party’s position of boycotting the exercise “lest it be seen as a misguided and reckless act and a further travesty” to the nation. “It does not bode well for the body politic for the Leader of the Opposition to be seen as calling on citizens to undermine the gains of this society, the strength of the people, and legacy of the PPP and its Founder Leader, Dr Cheddi Jagan,” the statement said.
‘Aiding and abetting’
It also warned that advising citizens not to participate in the process of registration is a violation of the National Registration Act, Chapter 19:08.
“Aiding and abetting this violation may also have consequences not limited only to legal,” the GTUC said, while adding that such encouragement can fuel passions and give rise to confrontation, placing registration field workers in harm’s way and at risk of violence. “Guyana cannot afford to move backward instead of forward in its political life. We must recognise, appreciate, secure, and build on the fights and historical gains of the working class, who are amongst our most vulnerable and must be protected at all times,” the statement said.
Further, the GTUC pointed out while the CCJ ruled that the Chairman of the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) was not validly appointed, the court did not rule that decisions taken during his leadership of the commission are invalid. It highlighted the recent no-confidence case when the court did not invalidate decisions voted on by former Member of Parliament Charrandass Persaud even though it found that he was not properly elected to sit in the National Assembly.
The statement said that GECOM, during the chairmanship of Justice James Patterson, voted to execute the house-to-house registration exercise, which the opposition is against. “Unless otherwise determined by GECOM or the Court, GTUC urges every eligible citizen to ensure they are registered to have their names on the Voters List. Failing to do so is at personal risk of disenfranchisement,” it said.
According to the GTUC, Critchlow, Jagan, Burnham, Desmond Hoyte et al must be turning in their graves to see that Guyana is not evolving from an era of division and non-cooperation. “Simple political matters are being made complex and difficult to resolve. The CCJ’s rulings and Consequential Orders are simple and straightforward to follow and implement when egos are set aside. Efforts being made to distort the rulings and orders and the consequences of such are a reminder of the tangled web we weave when we first practice to deceive. As a people we are called upon to proceed in a lawful and orderly manner to resolve the current impasse, failing which there can be dire consequences for this society,” the statement said.
It warned that as the nation continues to be divided and distracted with domestic squabbles, opportunistic external forces of all sorts can see this as an opportunity to exploit the country’s vulnerabilities.
It called for the government and opposition to come together with other national stakeholders to chart a way forward in securing a system of governance that would include all in the decision-making and allow equitable distribution of the national pie.
“The trade union movement having initiated and participated as a leading voice in the struggle for the right to vote is now advancing the argument that having achieved one-man-one-vote, whereas [an] election is the building block on which government stands, that is not all there is to social justice. Governing is not all about election. Governing is about the quality- good governance and social justice. The GTUC remains committed to the ideal of improving the lives of the working class through good governance and social justice. This is further attainable through Article 13 which we shall continue our advocacy for,” the statement said.
