Constitution violates rights of independent candidates

Dear Editor,

I note that only political parties, not individuals, can contest the elections. Is this not a violation of the natural rights of citizens to stand for elections and also restrict their voter choice? And therefore, isn’t the stringent ballot requirement that only parties can contest election a violation of the tenets of the constitution?

A party must contest at least six regions to be able to qualify for ballot. Isn’t this requirement unfair to the minor parties and therefore unconstitutional? In no country is an independent denied the right to contest elections? Guyana prides itself as granting everyone equality. Yet, independents cannot run for office.

Some fifteen-plus small parties are trying to get on the ballot. They are at a disadvantage to meet the ballot requirement in a society where independent minds, thinkers, and voters are subjects of distrust and victimisation by the two larger parties. Voters are fearful of signing nomination forms of the minor parties and also of being seen attending their meetings.

They don’t want to be seen as going against their race-based party. Thus, only a handful of the fifteen will actually make the ballot. From my investigation, as of now, only seven minor parties have met the minimum threshold (minimum signatures for the national list and contesting at least six regions). Voters are fearful of signing nomination forms – fearful of being branded as traitors to their race and/or their party.

But what troubles me the most as a political scientist, a citizen, and a voter is the violation of rights of individuals that are granted in the constitution – equality to everyone. Yet, a person cannot run for office unless he or she is a member of a party or contest as a party. That restricts a citizen’s freedom.

Also, voters are denied a choice of casting ballots for an independent candidate who is denied a presence on the ballot. How then can one claim that in Guyana everyone is equal when it comes to politics and voting? This is a gross violation of a voter’s or a citizen’s rights. Some kind of constitutional reform is needed to allow individuals to run for the national presidency and/or for chair of a region or as parliamentarian of a region or as a councillor of a region.

I believe if a voter or a prospective independent candidate were to challenge the laws (requirements) on candidacy and voting rights, they would be declared unconstitutional at CCJ if not by local courts. Which lawyer or voter has the courage to challenge the laws of constitution relating to candidacies and voting rights? If laws on contesting for parliament were to be amended, not only would individuals benefit, minor parties would also be beneficiaries.

Yours truly,
Dr. Vishnu Bisram