Dear Editor,
“I am of the view that, he who asserts must prove,” said Claudette Singh, Chairperson of the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM), in a statement to the press dated 2020.05.21 (Stabroek News). What she should have said was, “I am of the view that, he who asserts must prove, except if it is the APNU!”
GECOM’s Chairperson has been caught speaking out of both sides of her mouth. Less than twenty-four hours after that enigmatic statement, Claudette Singh turns around and writes (letter dated 2020.05.22) to the Commissioner of Police requesting verification as to whether certain citizens were out of the country on March 2, 2020. So much for … “he who asserts must prove.”
It must not have escaped the Chairperson’s attention that she has arrogated to herself new judicial powers, i.e. to receive and weigh evidence, and to adjudicate. As a consequence, she has now placed a positive obligation on citizens to prove – to her – that they were in the country on elections day. I could not have imagined a more macabre spectacle; perhaps, the plan is to rival the Spanish Inquisition.
To compound matters, the public learns about this letter from Vincent Alexander, a Government- nominated commissioner. The Chairperson did not deem it necessary to take the Guyanese public into confidence; after all, it is not as if she is entrusted with securing their democratic right to choose their own Government. Apparently, she did not even take the commissioners into confidence. Mr. Gunraj, an opposition-nominated commissioner, has indicated that he was unaware that GECOM dispatched a letter to the Commissioner of Police seeking immigration records.
What the public finds most interesting is that in a related matter, Claudette Singh reacted with alacrity, and promptly informed Guyanese that Mr. Gunraj is not authorized to speak on her behalf. Alas, no such statement is forthcoming that Mr. Alexander is also not authorized to speak on her behalf; perhaps he is so authorized.
The public is also waiting for the Chairperson to explain the following: how did Mr. Alexander know about the correspondence, but not Mr. Gunraj? To date, GECOM’s Public Relations Officer has offered an opinion that the Chairperson has the power to act unilaterally, purporting that she acted independent of the commissioners. Did she consult Mr. Alexander in her independent action?
It is a great pity that none of this independence and unilateral action was demonstrated when Mr. Mingo was committing fraud, and when the nation was looking at her for leadership. What we had was a cat and mouse game, with appearances featuring select members of the secretariat, including Mingo, Government functionaries, and ranks of the police force.
The Chairperson has not engendered confidence that she is committed to free and fair elections, and to safeguarding the people’s democratic right. This is the unfortunate context that Guyana finds itself in, and in the midst of a global pandemic. Guyanese must be vigilant.
Yours faithfully,
Kowlasar Misir
