Local government elections cannot be held in 2021

Dear Editor,

From all indications, Local Government Elections slated for 2021 in Guyana would not be held, reasons being the inordinate delays and impediments placed in the way of the process. These matters that impede the smooth running of the process was carved and initiated by the Opposition themselves who are now making the robust call for the very same LGE to be held immediately.

They cannot have it both ways; it is either they withdraw the election petition, two in number, and let the process move on smoothly and stop the sabre rattling. But even if the petition is withdrawn, it still does not take away from the fact of the other cases involving top brass in the commission, which will have to be heard and successfully concluded, before we can proceed with anything close to an LGE.
Other matters such as electoral reforms will have to be dealt with now, to remove that dark cloud that hangs over elections held here in Guyana; the rigging, the shameless fraud transactions and all that goes with it. I am talking about a new and modernized system where all niches involving electoral fraud is removed, so that we can have a clean and efficient functioning system.

Our sincere desire is to have a system free from all encumbrances and one where we can have record time results. In that regard, I am advocating a system whereby we can vote via machines as it is done in The USA and other developed countries. Machine voting takes away the power of corrupt returning officers and eliminates the incidence of rigging.
What transpired during and after the March 2nd 2020 Polls, certainly cannot take place in a vote by machine system, it just wouldn’t happen. The foolishness that consumed our time this last election, would have been wiped out completely. So, between the court cases and the next LGE we would have had enough time for voter education and the proper use of these machines for the successful run of the next LGE.

Yours truly,
Neil Adams