Leaders must spare no effort to ensure country is not brought into global disrepute

Dear Editor,

Sometime not too long ago I read a news report that quoted the Chief Election Officer, Mr. Lowenfield advising that elections could be held by July 2019. Based on Mr. Lowenfield’s reported pronouncement I want to recommend that the President and Opposition Leader meet again prior to March 21 and agree on a date for elections. Then immediately have the National Assembly extend the life of the Government for that period of time. That date should be communicated to the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) and then leave it to GECOM to advise that the date is not achievable thereby putting the onus on GECOM, as an independent body to convince both sides that the date is unreasonable and to indicate what resources it needs and in what timeframe to hold credible elections.

There is a constitutional requirement resulting from the passage of the NCV that elections be held within 90 days and the only reason for not conforming to this requirement, other than a stay or overturning of the ruling of the Chief Justice, is for GECOM to justify its lack of readiness, reasons for which it has a responsibility to explain and justify to the President, the Opposition Leader and the people of Guyana. It is the President, not GECOM that sets an election date but it is GECOM and not the President that must ensure that everything is in place for a credible election. Recently in Nigeria, the Elections Commission there postponed the elections just a few hours prior to the opening of polling stations. Both the ruling and opposition parties questioned, if not condemned the decision of the Elections Commission whose chairman held a press conference, with international observers present, to explain the reasons for the postponement, and suggested that people could “cry cheese” about the commission’s decision but that it was the commission which has a responsibility to ensure credible elections.

Editor, as I pen this letter I am viewing television coverage of the UN Human Rights Council meeting at which several nations are condemning Saudi Arabia on its human rights record. I would hate to see, even if it were just one member of the global community condemning any Guyana Government for its failure to comply with the provisions of the Constitution. Guyana has its problems like every other country but our leaders must spare no effort to ensure that our dear country is not brought into global disrepute.

No one can ridicule our country if the constitutionally established Elections Commission says it needs more time to put in place a credible election.

Yours faithfully,

Wesley Kirton