I divert from my usual Sunday column to make a few comments on the 2020 General Election which seems (but who knows) to be entering its final stage after suffering a tortured history since that day on March 2nd when everyone – everyone – was happy with a well-run, transparent, credible day of voting.
I see a note in my diary for March 4th indicating that the statements of poll from all balloting – authenticated by returning officers and all parties (so no arguments can arise) – showed the PPP won by 15,000 votes. “A clear win,” I wrote. “Hope they have some fresh ideas.”
Clear win! No arguments can arise! Really? Since then all the demons of disruption have been summoned – crude lies, blatant fraud, fabricated tabulation, manipulation of institutional justice, repeated stalling and obfuscation. Guyana has found itself humiliated and diminished in the family of nations. Election-rigging in slow motion like this has never before been witnessed.
In this disreputable rigmarole, dragged out interminably, we must at least be grateful for the impartial support for democracy which has been given unanimously by regional and international observers.
In particular I found my spirit lifted by the magnificently expressed outrage of Mia Mottley in rejecting the outrageous new attempt by the GECOM CEO to disenfranchise more than a hundred thousand Guyanese and award the election to the losers.
I have also been deeply moved by the steadfast defense of truth, electoral integrity, and Guyana’s reputation by Dominic Gaskin. It takes courage, of course, to stand up against tough rivals – but it takes even more courage to stand up to your friends. Dominic is a brave man indeed – we can only wish there were many more like him.
I regret that I have to express my fear that those who have gone to such outrageous lengths to subvert the elections of March 2nd are misguided enough if/when faced with loss of office to resort to final throw-of-the-dice fraud or even force to impose a de facto dictatorship. That will be the ruin of Guyana, but people willing to resort to such extreme measures will not mind such ruin. I very much hope that such a disaster does not come to pass.
