What has transpired in this sister Caricom country since the March 2, 2020 election has basically been a circus, and it is indeed a shame that up to this stage a credible count of the votes has not been completed.
Jamaica Observer
Since 21 December 2018, Guyana has not had a democratically elected government in place to manage the affairs of the country and to restore it to a state of normalcy.
According to a most recent report on climate change, if global warming continues unchecked, by the year 2070 – just 50 years from now – the heat will be such that up to three billion people – almost 40 percent of the current world’s population – will be adversely affected by ‘warmer than conditions deemed suitable for human life to flourish’.
The [Caribbean] Community calls on all concerned to ensure a credible and transparent recount process in order to provide legitimacy to any government, which would be sworn in as a result.
While Guyana’s GDP growth rate is expected to reach unprecedented levels this year because of the commencement of crude oil production, three events will almost certainly have an adverse effect on such growth.
You, Mr President, are a Churchman, you believe in God the Supreme, the Creator and Destroyer and those who would delude themselves that they would live forever, must realize that when that day comes, you can’t take a single thing with you – you come in this world with nothing and you leave with nothing and all that is left is what you have done for the people on earth.
I am not sufficiently convinced that the results of the Region 4 elections as declared by the GECOM RO last Thursday (March 5th) accurately reflect the results recorded on the various statements of poll collected from the 879 polling stations…I have a difficulty accepting that all the persons and organizations who have so far deemed the process to lack credibility have somehow gotten it wrong…If our election results are as widely rejected as they appear likely to be, then there can be no winners.
Even though a statute puts power in the hands of a Returning Officer, that Returning Officer will understand that he holds in his hands the future and stability of Guyana as we go forward, because every vote must be made to count.
Last Monday, Guyanese voters took to the polling stations to cast their ballots for general and regional elections following the 21 December 2018 vote of no confidence in the Government.
This is the time for all stakeholders to demonstrate commitment to democratic principles, processes and institutions and not lose sight of the fact that legitimate elections represent the voice and will of the people.
United Nations Resident Coordinator
Today is a very important day in the history of post-Independence Guyana.
Global Witness is an international watchdog group that ‘campaigns to end environmental and human rights abuses driven by the exploitation of natural resources and corruption in the global and economic system’.
Corruption hinders economic growth and the delivery of public services. In some cases, corruption even deprives people of their human rights and dignity, like when citizens are coerced to provide sexual favours in exchange for public services, such as health and education – a practice known as sexual extortion or “sextortion”.
In last week’s article, we began to highlight the key events that took place in 2019 which presented significant challenges for democracy and the rule of law in Guyana.