Nomination Day, One Rohee, Ten Returning Officers
I had to succumb? Despite quiet personal decisions not to participate, too robustly, in the current “conversations”, commentaries or debates regarding politics and current elections campaigning at this time, I couldn’t resist (?)
Anyhow, I do hope my perspectives today are somewhat different. Even if pointed. They have to do with the administering and management of national elections since 1964. Why 1964? It’s really easy to appreciate why I choose the period 1964-to-2015 (half of a century).
First, a relevant digression: I’m willing to wager that one former chairman of the National Elections Commission and its management/Secretariat, Dr. Steve Surujbally, would remind all interested that the elections he managed attracted the plaudits, even congratulatory endorsements of the International Observers who monitored them all. Can you blame him? All former Executives and managers of past elections since 1964 would obviously feel accomplished – whatever the evidence pointing to specific or Third World deficiencies regarding those electoral exercises.
Of course, our local Elections managers still around would quickly – gleefully – point to the numerous doubts and mischief surrounding elections in richer, well-oiled jurisdictions. But must we not worry with ongoing concern over what obtains here consistently, woefully at every Election cycle? Is it “under development” that undermines smooth, timely efficiency? That perpetuates suspicion?
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Our People’s will, suspicion, reality
No useful purpose here now to dwell on the reasonable fact-based charges of electoral-rigging during the Polls of ’68,’73, (1978 Referendum), ’80,’85. Of course, political/electoral manipulation favoured the then Ruling Party. Prior to and during the interventions of the ex-President Carter, the then Elections Commission suffered huge embarrassment related to Registration and ugly, bloated, fraudulent voters lists. A silent CARICOM continually laughed at its Guyana Member State “Rigging Reputation” but remained relatively silent as the Guyanese electorate’s real (majority) will was manipulated. Or delayed!
Carter’s prodding and American warnings resulted in 1992’s “fair” elections and the PPP’s victory. But Carter suggested a temporary structure for Guyana’s Elections Body. Why does it still exist to today? (1992 to 2020?)
So my repeated question – simple, significant, and even profound: why can’t successive “Gecoms” Deliver timely efficient elections and results, free of suspicion, obvious discrepancies, and even litigious controversies?
Let me offer my own response(s) to that question which should haunt and taint our much-vaunted peaceful Democracy. Here goes.
Ruling Government parties long to “rule” indefinitely. The commission itself should be rid of active political representatives and be peopled instead by neutral (?) professionals. The constitutional provisions and Representation of the People’s Act should attract review. Funding for Gecom should not have to await government releases. Gecom’s secretariat’s staff, role, procedures, systems must be subject to periodic intensive public scrutiny – perhaps review.
You-all, citizens and electorate, discuss the above proposals. Can we get any government – objectively committed to civilized, democratic elections forever – to implement such obvious, necessary procedures? And what’s the current position by March 2020?
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Returning Officers, Expert-consultants, Cde Rohee
Do the now-numerous overseas expert-consultants know the roles of the Returning Officers recently selected by Gecom? And the pivotal “influences” embedded in their prescribed responsibilities? I suppose that Gecom’s overseas experts – eminent from various parts of the globe – are there to “assist” with IT technicalities, voter – “education”, and contributions to a pure accurate final voters list (?) Hopefully. But how efficiently can they function on polling day itself?
When I began preliminary research for my then-intended publication on the history of electoral rigging in Guyana, both PPP and PNC knowledgeables informed me of the clout residing with Returning Officers in their respective Districts during and at the end of polling day. Do you know that these 10 officers can decide whose vote was valid, who can be allowed to impersonate an eligible voter late on Polling Day and what votes should be counted? Much more on this soon as I seek not to cast negative aspersions on the latest ten R.O’s.
My school-mate (-ho-ho-ho)- Clement Rohee, decades after being “discovered” by Comrade Cheddi on Robb Street, developed into an enigmatic, sometimes-ridiculed, politics-savvy politician. His ministerial positions – and blunders – apart, Comrade Clement, a long–ago Gecom Commissioner, truly knows about rigging and the techniques employed. You don’t have to “like” him to appreciate his knowledge of such matters. He has been advising publicly over past days.
I, respectfully, invite the Electorate and Gecom to heed Rohee’s Rigging Reminders: (1) Some small/new “parties” could have been “created” as fronts for “A green benefactor”. They are probably chameleons;” (2) Small parties hardly support the PPP in its relentless quest for Gecom to produce an accurate final voters’ list; (3) proxy voting can produce eventual seats (how to monitor those votes?) ; (4) Location of polling stations in particular districts; (5) Arrangements for requested recounts and (6) Would the coalition contender actually accept electoral defeat?
Those are just a sampling of Cde Rohee’s current concerns, apart from his advice about how Presiding Officers could manipulate Polling Places opening and closing to facilitate illegal voting near and after 6:00 pm. You don’t have to be “a PPP” to heed such insights. Agreed? Over to the “integrity” of the Commission, its chairperson and Officer Lowenfield’s Secretariat. But wait! Why is your eligible name deleted from the list?
Okay, I’m given to overlooking the exuberance, aggressive enthusiasm and diluted bullyism by the horn-blowing, obstructionist tactics by the Green–State supporters on Nomination Day. Peace won out!
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Peacefully ponder, Carefully consider…
● 1) Not now possible to stay high and not go low? A candidate’s health challenges should be left alone!
● 2) Who’s funding the flags and the food provided during this campaign?
● 3) Anthony – Tony – Vieira’s decision to support the PPP certainly attracted Facebook contributors’ vile and venom. Wow! Whatever happened to choice?
● 4) Both leading Parties utilized a Trinidadian soca hit. So much for local music.
● 5) Should not convicted child rapists attract floggings? What? They were “sick”? We are “civilized”?
● 6) A sharp reminder from Facebook: Both politicians and baby diapers and pampers need to be changed frequently! (For the same reasons!)
’ Til next week!
