The dangers confronting our democracy are of great concern

Dear Editor, A few days ago, we celebrated October 5, 1992, as one of the most significant and important dates in our country’s history. On that date, Guyana successfully held its first free and fair elections since it became an independent country in 1966. It was the realisation of a dream of many who came before us, to live in freedom and democracy.

This was not a gift to our country. It came about through epic struggles against colonial domination, and, after independence, against the anti-democratic rule characterised by massively rigged elections. Many lives were lost including Michael Forde, Jagan Ramessar, Bholanauth Parmanand, Ohene Koama, Dublin and Walter Rodney.

Many others, like Arnold Rampersaud, spent years in prison on trumped-up charges.

The sacrifices were great by our people and the democratic forces, mainly the People’s Progressive Party.

The democracy ushered in by the elections of October 5, 1992, did not disappoint.

Our country reversed the decline in all aspects of life. In economics, we moved from bankruptcy and the status of a Heavily Indebted Poor Country with a per capita GDP of US$300 to an Upper Level Middle Income Developing Country. This is not my description but that of the International Financial Institutions.

Socially, our country blossomed. Thousands of people realised the lifelong dream of owning their own homes. Our education services experienced a massive rise, as well as our health services. Our senior citizens began to live in some dignity with the removal of the Means Test, and increases in pensions with additional services in water and electricity.

Guyana, which before 1992 was seen as a basket case, had become a model for the region to follow.

However, one of the greatest achievements was the freedom which all our people enjoyed. No one was ever afraid to speak their minds. People criticised without looking over their shoulders to see who was listening.

It is only three years ago that the PPP left office and we see the serious decline stepping in.

Of great concern are the dangers confronting our democracy.

The PPP/C is now engaged in an intense struggle to protect that democracy for which so much sacrifices were made to achieve.

The immediate goal is to prevent the rigging of our elections.

We have seen the APNU regime taking control of the Commission, undermining its independence and preparing it to be used against the Guyanese people by serving the ruling Party of this country.

In the first instance, the President rejected three lists with 18 names of highly respectable and prominent people in our society to be chairperson of the Elections Commission. He derogatorily described them as not being ‘fit and proper’.

He chose someone outside of the list, which is, in the view of most people, against our Constitution. The gentleman, Mr James Patterson, is in his middle or late 80’s.

It is apposite to note that the President had earlier refused to retain the services of Mr Prem Persaud as Chairman of the Public Utilities Commission, and Mr Cecil Kennard as Chairman of the Police Complaints Authority on the grounds that they were too old. Clear double standards.

Not only did he appoint Mr Patterson, a person as old as, or older than those two prominent Guyanese, as Chairman of GECOM, but Mr Patterson was going on a study course in the UK at GECOM’s expense! That is at the tax-payers’ expense!

Under the Chairmanship of Mr Patterson, some very distributing developments have taken place.

In the first place, the Commission had requested the assistance of the UNDP to provide a competent person to head the Information Technology department. I believe that all stakeholders had agreed to this. However, GECOM now seems to be going back on this, and by their actions (of making themselves unavailable to pursue the matter with UNDP), appears to be aiming to frustrate the UNDP. They have no interest of having any independent person on the staff at the Commission.

The removal of Mr Vishnu Persaud as Deputy Chief Election Officer confirms this. In fact, the removal of Mr Persaud, who has elections experience and whose work never came up for questions, is not just to get rid of an independent person, but more of a general process of this regime to remove Indian-Guyanese from the Public Service in general.

Recently, we saw even more shenanigans. As we move towards Local Government Elections, we are seeing the gerrymandering of the boundaries of the Local Authority Areas. This act is reminiscent of the practices of the colonial masters. This is the example that the PNC+APNU is following. This is an issue being challenged in the court.

As we prepared for nomination of candidates, the trend is disturbing. Many forgeries were found on the lists of backers of the APNU and AFC lists. GECOM seems to be complicit with those parties.

One example is the case in which Mr Shafraz Beekham of Bloomfield/Whim and 50 other persons submitted sworn affidavits saying that their signatures were fraudulently procured. They did not sign to support that party’s list of candidates.

They presented themselves to the Returning Officer (RO). However, the RO refused to remove their names from the list as is legally required.

Mr Shafraz Beekham moved to the courts to get this corrected. Shockingly, GECOM produced a list without Mr Beekham’s name on it! If this is not GECOM being complicit, then what is it?

GECOM’s Chairman, and Chief Election Officer Mr Lowenfield, have refused to even give lists to the Commissioners. Mr Lowenfield told Ms Bibi Shadick bluntly that he is not giving her the list. This is subversion of the Commission! Unfortunately, Mr Lowenfield seems to be abandoning his professional role and adopting a partisan one. How can the Commission manage the elections as it is constitutionally obliged to do when the staff is obstructing its functions?

This is not the only instance that Mr Lowenfield appears totally partisan. The case of Voter Education is also prominent!

Mr Lowenfield has refused to given the name of the PR company or person that GECOM has contracted to do Voters Education. He has refused to disclose how much money the company/person would be paid. His excuse is that he got the money from Minister Jordan and was not obliged to disclose that information.

The money is not Jordan’s personal money, it is taxpayers’ money and it must be made public.

These are not isolated cases but a pattern of behaviour of GECOM personnel.

So far, the Chairman’s contract is still a secret. Despite several requests, the information as to the Chairman’s salary and other conditions of employment are not being revealed.

One cannot help recalling that this regime tried desperately to hide, they even lied about the signing bonus which they received from ExxonMobil and placed in a separate bank account. They succeeded in hiding this for two years.

It was only after great public outcry that they finally relented and provided the agreement with ExxonMobil on production sharing. When they did, it was clear why they were hiding it.

It is evident that this regime is abandoning the democratic road that October 5, 1992, ushered in. It is going back to the PNC style of ruling during 1964 to 1992. We know the consequences. Poverty and underdevelopment. Politics and economics are linked and affect each other. This is the road to disaster!

All progressive, democratic and decent-minded people must speak up, get up, stand up for your rights! Yours faithfully, Donald Ramotar Former President