GECOM should at all times be elections ready

I am closely monitoring the political situation in Guyana. As you all are aware, we have combined in the diaspora to ensure the AFC was relegated to Another Failure Confirmed (AFC) due to the Executive’s dishonesty on the President’s unilateral appointment of the GECOM Chairman. Very soon you will see the colours of their shirts and blazers will be changed from yellow to green and they will all be engrossed in the boiling pot of the PNC, as it’s their only way of survival. The PNC is using the PM and the Minister of Public Security to do its dirty work and they both have no other option.

We have followed very closely since this new Government came to power in May 2015. Rather than carrying out its basic responsibilities and duties like maintenance of law and order, protection of lives and properties, promote democracy and social justice, provision/promotion of social welfare services, promotion of economic development, protection of human rights, provide employment opportunities etc., the Government instead wasted tens of millions of dollars investigating senior members of the previous government. All of the court cases on those forensic audits so far have fallen apart. One of the impending charges is that on the current PPP/C Presidential Candidate for undervaluing of house lots given out. What about those tens of thousands of house lots given out to Low Income Families for $50,000? Aren’t those undervalued too? Therefore he should also be charged for those additional tens of thousands of Low Income House lots. The current administration has promised the young people an opportunity to “live the good life”, yet the government has created no employment opportunities for the young people. You have to be a retiree and have some past military background before this current government hires you. In the majority of government offices, retired military personnel are strategically placed within. The PNC recently went to Linden and promised to create employment by building a call centre – they did not say who or what the contract will be about, maybe another promise to fool the young people or a white elephant.

The Minister of “Forensic Audits” exposed his intellectual ability on several of his public pronouncements and statements; one that stands out is his interpretation on National Television of the No Confidence Motion (NCM), this country cannot have a better national comedian. The performance of this current government since May 2015 indicated that they never had a vision for governance, a vision for the people, a vision for economic and social development. Based on their style of governance, it would appear; they never expected to win that election.

With the passing of the now infamous NCM, the government is failing to announce elections within its legal time frame as required by the Constitution of Guyana. President Granger had defied all odds on the three lists submitted by the Opposition Leader and unilaterally appointed an octogenarian whom he deemed is “Fit and Proper”. This learned judge, based on his resume, possessed decades of judicial experience including that of Chief Justice in Grenada (hope not a slip of the pen!), and should therefore be cognizant of the fact of the impending constitutional crisis facing the country where the citizens will be the ultimate losers. Unless this time he indicated it’s the “slip of his age” that resulted in the delays. GECOM should at all times be elections ready, as it’s an on-going funded institution and not wait until four years elapsed after the last elections to carry out house to house registration and update voters’ lists. In the interim, elections should be called as the current voters list is valid.

Lastly, a young lady was charged for a bomb threat at UG, was she made a scape goat? What about the person that shot Brian O’Toole. One of the basic duties of government is to protect its citizens and maintain law and order. What is Ramjattan doing, the taxpayers’ money is paying you to ensure their safety and security which is the portfolio you are responsible for, I call on you to please give the public an update on this incident. I have known Brian O’Toole for many decades – we used to live in the same village on West Demerara, he or his family would not harm a fly. We need Minister Ramjattan or the Commissioner of Police to give the public an update on this incident.

Yours faithfully, Laurence O. Williams, FCCA, CPA, CGA, MBA Toronto, Ontario. Canada.