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.
With thousands of Guyanese casting their votes earlier this week, our nation has spent several days waiting with bated breath for the results to be announced.
Oil revenues and His Excellency’s new pension
First, three major points upfront: (1) A few weeks ago as the Democratic Party in the USA began its search for a candidate to oppose Republican President Trump, the results of an election process known as a Caucus could not be quickly ascertained.
The results of the current national and regional elections have already confirmed that anyone who believes that regime change will in itself set Guyana on the path to ethnic unity and development are deluding themselves.
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.
Election over-’70’s and a suspect GECOM
From Congress Place to the State House upstairs as well as the Baridi Benab downstairs emotions ran the gamut: tension, reasonable expectations, doubt, confidence, enthusiasm, anxiety, “tiredness”, acceptance of final results, potential hostility to the unwanted unexpected.
Not so long ago, Guyana persistently stood on the Tier 2 watch list for failing to fully comply with the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking in persons.
The great Portuguese poet, Fernando Pessoa, wrote, “We, all who live, have/A life that is lived/And another life that is thought/And the only life we have/It’s the one that is divided/In right or wrong.”
On 16 November 2011, I said, “Of the major parties, I am left with A Partnership for National Unity, which has adumbrated a position that comes closest to my demands.
By Alexander Friedman
JACKSON, WYOMING – For the last 50 years, almost every US presidential election has brought a new swing of the national political pendulum.
One of the more interesting aspects of the recently ended Heads of Government meeting, was the positive tone of the remarks made by CARICOM’s ad interim Chair, Barbados’ Prime Minister, Mia Mottley.
For the ninth time, as the Jubilee/Oily Election Campaign turns furiously into the homestretch to the March 2nd tapes, we invite you to spare some moments for smiles, laughs, the humour of the campaign.
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’.
By Ulric Trotz
Ulric Trotz is the Deputy Director & Science Adviser, Caribbean Community Climate Change Centre, Belmopan, Belize
Recently one of our daily newspapers carried the headline, “Banks DIH interested in auto sales, energy sector”.