-credited with major role in restoration of democracy in 1992
Former US President Jimmy Carter who passed away yesterday in the United States at the age of 100 was widely credited with helping to pave the way for the historic free and fair elections here in 1992 which saw then President Desmond Hoyte transferring power after his party had rigged elections between 1968 and1985.
At the Head of the Carter Center, the former US President paid a visit to Guyana in 1990 and managed to convince a previously adamant Hoyte that there should be counting at the place of the poll, a revamped elections commission and a credible voters list.
His intervention resulted in a political agreement that elections which were due in 1990 be deferred for the implementation of electoral reforms. Hoyte had gone against hardliners in his party who were against yielding to democratic elections and the period leading up to the polls was marred by various controversies.
