Dear Editor,
Mr. Granger finally yesterday called the elections for March 2, 2020. So what was the statement on the previous evening? A charade? Or a deliberate play with the minds of the people? In his address to the nation, Mr. Granger told citizens that “since the passage of the no-confidence motion in the National Assembly on 21st December 2018, he has respected the decisions of the Courts and upheld the Constitution.” Was Mr. Granger playing some sort of psychological operations on the minds of the listening public? Because that statement is an absolute stranger to the truth. Any thinking Guyanese can tell you that since September 18, 2019, Mr. Granger has observed the Constitution in the breach.
That speech on the night of September 25, 2019, was nothing else but – absolute balderdash. In the first place, Mr. Granger was alerted to the constitutional course of action by the CCJ since June 18, 2019, and this slippage into no-man’s land after September 18, 2019, is all on him and he cannot tag that to any other organization; not even GECOM. What we saw was a determined attempt on the part of the regime to vary the narrative and operate as if the CCJ’s decision had no bearing on their future actions. Remember they held several kangaroo cabinet meetings after the courts deemed them as resigned as prescribed in the Constitution? So this belated attempt to hold court in a final “hurrah” in order for him to practice his brand of aristocracy with panache and fanfare should not be tolerated by any lovers of democracy. He is an officeholder operating in an illegal period, plan and simple. He is also one who continues to use techniques that are in clear violation of the spirit and intent of the Constitution. In this period, there are only two roles left for Mr. Granger – dissolve the Parliament and call the elections.
So it is settled, let us press on. Let the nation be glad and have a splendid Christmas season and let the real campaign begin on Monday, January 6, 2019. For me, I am focused on Guyana and although the journey was a difficult one, progress has been made.
I want to put on record my deep appreciation for the diplomatic community especially the USA, UK, and EU. I also want to put on record my elevated respect for civil society especially the Private Sector Commission under the leadership of Gerry Gouveia. I want to congratulate the PPP/C on their diligence and perseverance. I am also grateful to Mr. Granger for coming to his senses quite belatedly to do his duty and call the elections date. But most importantly, I am grateful to the Guyanese people for their patience and tolerance. There shall be winners and losers in the next elections, but we must ensure that democracy does not ever lose again.
In that light, I am calling on all eligible Guyanese to make it their personal duty to check the Voter’s List very early in October 2019 and ensure they are registered. The time is now to fix this once and for all.
There is still lots of work to do to emerge from this quagmire, but we have reached a space where we can pause until October 1, 2019, when GECOM open its doors and commences the Claims and Objections process. Onward to the Claims and Objections period and there must be no turning back.
Yours faithfully,
Sasenarine Singh
