Empowering Afro-Guyanese business-persons - only?
All that must be controlled – from personnel to funding. Then (2) denial of fair play for the Opposition to campaign. (3) There was no counting immediately at the place of poll so “supplementary ballots could have materialized. (4) Friendly electoral staff in key positions and Polling Day intimidation of Opposition polling agents should be factored in too. (5) One thing I thought I witnessed once was the suspicious role of the army members escorting ballot boxes from the place of poll to where they were not meant to go. But I swear I have no real evidence of what actually happened.
Opposition expectations: 2018/2020
Inclusive of the Jimmy Carter 1992 elections there were six (6) elections since 1985. Observers would often declare that though there were flaws and malpractices discovered, those could not alter the final overall results of those polls. There were/are electoral challenges in the Courts of Law.
Today, the IC technological support to oversee our elections should give all voters comfort, confidence. Oh yes!? So what’s there to look for? As the PPP will do. (Who’s the top IT man?)
For starters, the management of GECOM itself. Not only the erudite retired Judge/Chairman. But the operational secretariat. Then there are the roles of the Communities Ministry and the Citizenship Department of the Presidency. All the Polling District officials and their training should attract some attention too.
Specially for the 2020 Jubilee and Oil Elections, after registration, claims, objections, how valid will be the final Electoral Roll of eligible voters. How many ballot papers will be printed? Where? Why? Who will go to oversee the printing? How many Commonwealth and other foreigners will qualify to vote in 2020? I’ll end with the above, for now. I know that Dr Jagdeo and Czarina Gail are expert in these electoral matters. They just have to deal with GECOM and His Excellency’s very own chairman. More in this “series” later.
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Never Trump! Why Carter?
So how would the unique American President D.J. Trump describe Guyana? Does he know where this country is located?
One of the former and better national beauty pageant winners – connected to the Fentys (ha!) – Meleesa Payne, actually met Trump at the finals. And perhaps his brief Secretary of State Tillerson might have mentioned his ExxonMobil Oil find here. But Trump has China, Iran, North Korea. Guyana!?
So why is America’s Best Former President Carter reigniting a presence and interest here. Post- 1992 “legacy”? He did once wash his hands in disgust. Wants to determine a winner? Wants to relate to either winner in 2021? ExxonMobil being here? Y’all tell me. *************** Practical, necessary “Afro” assistance… The flyer is specific! “Calling all Afro-Guyanese business owners”, it is headed.
This column was completed before Wednesday just past. So I wouldn’t know the outcome of the planned free one-stop business conference. This most interesting and welcome practical session is intended to assist and really empower small and not-so-small AfroGuyanese entrepreneurs.
It is/was convened by three (3) Afro-oriented groups now operating under the UN mandate of the International Decade for the People of African Descent. (There is actually an IDPAD “Assembly” located on Regent Street (Tele 227-7848.) Never have I seen such a wide, comprehensive array of expertise to be put at the disposal of those interested. (IPED, banks, GRA, NIS, government ministries and registries, Small Business Bureau, et al.)
Dr David Hinds has to be pleased at this governmentendorsed initiative. I don’t know whether the media received invitations, but I can’t wait for the outcomes.
No trivialisation meant here. Just “sensitive” humour: Did any Portuguese and Amerindian Guyanese turn up to the session on Wednesday? Were they welcomed? Ho Ho!
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The Kaieteur Peeper is right: many aged citizens feel insecure both on the streets and in homes or business places. The vicious criminal attacks!
Who will co-ordinate and chair His Excellency’s next full-fledged media conference? Viva Volda to win! ’Til next week! (allanafenty@yahoo.com)