A victory that GECOM and all Guyanese must not lose

Dear Editor,

Guyana like the United States (U.S) and every other country around the world is not without electoral challenges. Whereas the U.S. reserves the right to resolve its electoral disputes, it seems as though Guyana does not deserve the same level of right to exercise judicial and other reviews over its systems. There has been intensive lobbying of U.S congressmen and women to speak about our election, even as it is in process and under the agreed scrutinising eyes of CARICOM. The action is disrespectful to the Caribbean community, which is Guyana’s primary regional partnership, grouping, and “most significant interlocutor.”

It has not escaped attention that the recent representatives speaking to this issue are not without taint to their characters. Congresswoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz has a sordid track record on credible elections when she headed the Democratic National Convention. She was forced to resign in disgrace on the eve of the party’s 2016 convention for her involvement in rigging the democratic process to favour the candidate who she supported as against the other.

Who is she to talk about credible elections? The point is we are on the right side and she is allowing herself to be used to deny us due process and the use of our laws in the determination of credible election. Guyanese can now relate to how Bernie Sanders must have felt though his was not a national election but a primary. Wasserman Schultz alleged electoral corruption was condemned by Democrats and Republicans alike. We have a national election where the stakes are higher, where we have visible and countless illegality in the process and Schultz is used to tell Guyana that we must accept.

What they are signalling to us is that white is right and they determine the fate of people of colour even in places where they exercise no legal control and jurisdiction. Shame on the opposition. Shame on those Guyanese who encourage this situation where those who we vote for cannot make decision for this country but bring foreigners to tell us what to do.

These solicited, perhaps hired commentators, clearly do not to want to regard our Constitution and Election laws in determining credible resolution as promised in the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM)’s gazetted Order of 4th May, 2020. Determining that credibility as per Order relies on numbers and observation of the voting process on Election Day. The Order is a legal document and non-compliance constitutes a violation of the law. Some, local and international, seem bent on flouting this. This is disturbing and unacceptable.

It is also not lost on me- equally as the U.S representatives were they truly paying attention to Guyana- that for less than what is being revealed from our recount exercise, no U.S electoral board would have certified/declared such as a result. As recent as the 2018 election, the North Carolina Election Board voted not to certify/declare a congressional election for the 9th District because of “claims of irregularities and fraudulent activities.”

According to the Board, it wanted “to assure that the election is determined without taint of fraud or corruption and without irregularities that may have changed the result” and proceeded to conduct an investigation into the charges. The National Public Radio reported the investigation was propelled by just “six sworn statements from voters in Bladen County alleging that people came to their doors and urged them to hand over their absentee ballots,” which is a violation of that state’s electoral laws (1st December 2018- Amid Fraud Allegations, North Carolina Election Board Won’t Certify House Race).

Guyana, like the U.S and every other country around the world, is not without electoral challenges. Whereas the U.S. reserves the right to resolve its electoral disputes, it seems as though Guyana does not deserve the same level of right to exercise judicial and other reviews over its systems.

Note is also taken that the Organisation of American States (OAS), U.S, Britain and European Union have spoken out on the election or submitted final report in as much as the process is not completed. This is submitted at a time that questions the credibility of the process and allegations still being addressed. They have done this country a disservice with injudicious interfering with our processes, setting out to undermine our laws.

They came to observe but set out to operate as though they are presiding over the process. Guyanese should not be bullied by other nation’s public servants. They can’t go to their countries and determine how elections must be run much less show open contempt for the laws and processes governing same. The dictation they want to give to us, in their own country they cannot do it. The audacity of them!

Guyanese need to take note that this process of recolonisation encouraged by persons who posture that they have our interest at heart must be equally condemned. For the persons being lobbied to dictate has no interest in our growth but how much chaos they can create between races and groups as they siphon off our bauxite, gold, diamond, oil, gas and other resources.

Already one of the heads of mission about to retire with plans to take up a position with a particular oil company even as he fraternises with the young girls in Guyana. For those who owe the Treasury hundreds of millions of dollars, we know why they lie and are desperate to have regime change by any means necessary. They don’t want to pay taxes consistent with the laws but expect the small to comply and shoulder the responsibility for them.

At the end of the day, regardless of which party one supports, regardless of who win, lose or draw, the integrity of our electoral process must be paramount and safeguarded. It is that integrity, that credibility, that feeling of fair play and the will of the people in a fair process that must guide us. This is a victory that GECOM and all Guyanese must not lose.

Lincoln Lewis