The unsung heroes of the March 2 elections

Dear Editor,

In his April 15, 2020 column, Mr. Freddie Kissoon noted that Guyanese should be grateful to Lynch, Quinn, Chatterjee, Paet, Carter, Arthur and Golding. Indeed, words cannot begin to describe the sense of gratitude that Guyanese owe to these noble individuals.

By lending their voices, our cry for democracy to prevail has been heard around the globe. It is because of these individuals the entire world knows of the woeful acts committed by the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM), which were aided and abetted by APNU/AFC.

But what about Guyanese heroes? The despicable acts following the March 2 elections also brought out some unsung home-grown heroes that we ought to appreciate. I want to take this opportunity to acknowledge a few individuals that stood out in the fight to protect our democracy, while ensuring that Guyanese remained well informed.

I was very impressed with how Mr. Lenox Shuman expressed himself during these trying times. He appeared cool, calm, and collected during impromptu interviews with the media, following various unnerving developments at GECOM.
Despite a highly toxic atmosphere, he was informative and very professional. And even when he was wrongly accosted at the High Court while wearing his traditional attire, he remained polite yet resolute regarding his constitutional rights in his interactions with members of the Guyana Police Force.

Despite the various attempts at misinformation by some individuals, Mr. Timothy Jonas has been a voice of reason over these last several weeks. He has confidently and consistently called out those who have tried repeatedly to change the narrative and/or pedal falsehoods.

From one of his very first interviews where he challenged a reporter in front of the GECOM Region Four Command Centre to his recent appearance on Globespan 24×7, his no-nonsense approach has been refreshing. He is very knowledgeable and well spoken and above all, has not been afraid to challenge the status quo in Guyana.

Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP), Mr. Edgar Thomas’ single act of defiance sent a strong message to the Guyanese people, his superiors, and their political handlers. Although it cost him his command, it is reassuring to know that there are members of the Guyana Police Force who are only interested in lawfully doing their jobs and are willing to push back against political directives.

Mr. Brian Mackintosh’s determination to assure the Guyanese people that the containers holding their votes are safe and sound is commendable. Not even harassment and detention by certain elements in the Guyana Police Force has shaken his resolve.

Mr. Jonathan Yearwood’s solitary act challenging the Region 4 Returning Officer during the second fraudulent declaration is also noteworthy. He made it abundantly clear that Guyanese are ready, willing, and able to speak out against the wrongs that are being committed.

I would also be remiss if I did not mention the collective “Guardians of Democracy”. Created out of shared necessity, this group of individuals and those that have supported them with meals and refreshments have sent a chilling message to those who are hard at work to subvert our democracy.

With individuals like these, all is not lost in Guyana. I fervently hope that when the dust settles, these outstanding citizens are duly recognised and remembered for their unwavering courage and determination during the most testing of times in our country’s history.

I think all civil-minded Guyanese can learn a thing or two from these individuals.

Yours faithfully,
Omchand Mahdu
Blacksburg, Virginia,
USA