Dear Editor,
I have noted that the Guyana Elections Commission has written to the Minister of Local Government indicating its readiness to hold Local Government Elections in the first quarter of 2023. It is interesting to note that in 2015, the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (the then opposition), had called for a new voters list compiled on the basis of fresh house-to-house enumeration as part of a number of recommendations for reforms to enhance credibility in the list.
Following the 2020 National and Regional Elections, the current opposition has highlighted a number of alarming anomalies which have again resurfaced, and has called for a new list. This state of affairs cannot represent democratic norms. The people must be confident that their elected officials are reflected by a process free from influence that is fair and transparent. We cannot be comfortable with this partisan approach to representation. Come what may, the people of our country should rest assure that their elected officials are competently executing on their behalf and in the interest of the citizenry.
Civil society and all right thinking Guyanese must band together to ensure that no election is held on a bloated list dictated by the Peoples Progressive Party Government and Chair of the Guyana Elections Commission. There can be no harm in ensuring a levelled playing field is created for all actors in the electoral process. Let us be rid of this indecency.
Sincerely,
His Worship Ubraj Narine (Pt.)
Mayor of the City of Georgetown
