Dear Editor,
Civil Society has a vital role to play, not only in terms of influencing policies and programmes but also in holding government and politicians accountable to the tenets of good governance and the rule of law.
In this regard, it is good to see the local private sector organizations interfacing with Government agencies and the Guyana Elections Commission in an attempt to offer advice on the way forward on issues pertaining to the upcoming General and Regional elections.
According to media reports, the Private Sector Commission (PSC) has requested observer status from GECOM in the forthcoming elections. This is a commendable initiative which could help in terms of voter confidence and credibility in the electoral processes.
More organizations need to come on board including representatives from organized labour, religious bodies, the Guyana Bar Association, Transparency International (Guyana), the Guyana Human Rights Association, the Media Association of Guyana, among others.
The preservation and consolidation of democracy is a collective responsibility involving all stakeholders and should not be left to political parties. Politics touches the lives of all citizens in a fundamental way. It permeates the entire fabric of our society. In the words of our late national poet Martin Carter, it is a case where ‘all are involved, all are consumed.’
Democracy and good governance rests on the foundation of strong national institutions of which civil society is an integral part.
Yours faithfully,
Hydar Ally
