Dear Editor,
Democracy is undoubtedly the most enduring desideratum in human civilization. The concept is all pervading, allowing for all members of society to participate in the affairs of their lives.
Fast forward from imperialism and colonialism. Slavery and indentureship denied this basic right. The ‘enslaved’ people were not considered equals; they were categorized as the ‘others’ – not like ‘us’ – not humans. In the United States, for example, Black African people in particular (but also other people of color, especially the First Peoples) suffered wretchedly. Lynching of ‘Negroes’ was practiced, commonplace, and a spectacle for all the white people – inhuman and abhorrent indeed, yet acceptable as a norm! Basic human rights for the ‘others’ was not normative – they were not accepted as equals, not human enough.
If we fast-forward again, it was the era of the beginning of civil rights in the US that augured change, albeit slowly – in the West. Rosa Parks stood out for courage. Martin Luther King Jr. bravely, indomitably, forcefully, dangerously to his life, and non-violently, embarked on the movement for civil rights and voting rights. There were many others whose names are not mentioned now – with apologies. Many suffered physically during this basic struggle; many died for this right, including the assignation of the great Martin Luther King Jr. This right to vote goes beyond partisanship. It is the quintessential foundation of democracy. Eventually common decency and measured success triumphed, and basic democracy saw a guiding light in the horizon – with a “promise”, a “dream” and hope for “equality before the law and its implicit purpose to guarantee the rights to life, liberty….” Despite this, there were/are undemocratic upheavals occurring episodically around the world. In particular, I like to reference Guyana and the United States of America. Guyana witnessed one of the most egregious display to thwart the democratic process during the general elections in 2020. In the United States there were/are many who want to subvert the outcome of its most recent presidential election – still.
Why? The simple and probably the best answer is to have power; yes, power to do things for the already powerful and their kith and kin – family and friends. Power gives prestige and aggressive kudos. It give ‘power’ to do things that circumvent the normal process of the democratic process. Power makes people into demi-gods, bypassing the ordinary. People with such power dictate access to anything in society – for personal gain, and for their families, friends, and cronies. Corruption becomes commonplace, and eventually becomes a new norm, and acceptable behavior. The recipients of the corrupt system, having tasted the sweetness, succumb and acquiesce to the growing cancer of corruption — fraud, sleaze, malpractice dishonesty, etc. The circle gets more enclosing and the web of corruption more constricting. The snare was too good and the tightening trap too difficult to escape!
This preamble is meant to draw attention to the inviolability of the sacrosanct right to vote – the democratic right! The 2020 elections in Guyana witnessed the most flagrant resolve by the government of the day to take that right from the populace. The world witnessed this deliberate systematic brazen attempt by one party to curtail that right; yet there were/are deniers who perpetuate the big lie as the basis for subduing that right….
People in power and their underlings were hell-bent to employ any and all the dirty tricks to steal an election – by any means necessary – deceit, falsity, and blatant and barefaced rigging. Malfeasance epitomized beyond the pale of ordinary imagination! In particular, officers of GEOCOM (and they know who they are, and we know who they are, and the world know who they are) committed acts that may be deemed prejudicial, seditious and downright criminal. These officers are yet to face appropriate punitive sentence by the judicial system. In fact, they are still receiving and enjoying handsome salaries and perks.
When petty crimes are committed, justice is swift, and the guilty are punished, often with jail term. Not so for those in high places – the rich and powerful who know how to roll the dice, and ‘who know who’. To the contrary, these so-called big shot ‘white collar’ criminals should have appropriate punishment meted out to them swiftly. The sentence must fit the crime. Further, because of the egregious nature of the acts, the guilty should be jailed, with no salaries, no pension, or other benefits.
For those who were/are vocal outbidders, and for those who were consciously and intentionally silent, history will not absolve them!
Sincerely,
Gary Girdhari