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Guyana political games

Dec 04, 2010 Letters

Dear Editor,
Credible unnamed sources have informed our correspondent that of the 90,000 people who have not collected their ID cards 70,000 seem to be Indo-Guyanese. This has made the PPP even more scared of losing the general elections scheduled for 2011.
The desperation within the PPP ranks is reflected in what the sources says is a plan to file a constitutional motion on behalf of the PPP arguing that the Guyana Constitution says all Guyanese are eligible to vote.
Thus overseas Guyanese should be allowed to vote and the court order being sought would direct GEOCOM to put the arrangements in place to facilitate voting by overseas based Guyanese.
This would delay elections by at least two years in the estimation of the PPP.
The other plan being hatched by the PPP involves the “Yes” and “No” question of whether Jagdeo is interested in a third term as President. Again the current constitution would be used to let him be reincarnated as Prime Minister.
The argument would be that the constitution only says that a presidential candidate has to be named. Thus Jagdeo could be appointed as PM from a PPP list. That could possibly be tested in court if such a scenario comes to pass.
The bottom line of the planned machinations by the PPP to both remain in power and to have Jagdeo continue to play a senior role in Guyana’s government is that the opposition must unite to ensure the PPP does not win a majority or plurality in 2011.
The opposition also has to call out the PPP on their about face on voting by Guyanese based overseas, given their long standing objections to such voting.
It may well be that there is now overall agreement that Guyanese living abroad should be allowed to vote in Guyanese elections. However, a major question like that should not be decided by a judge. That and other decisions needed for inclusive governance of Guyana are what need to be discussed in the constitutional reform process that should be the primary mandate of a coalition government in 2011.
We need to see the opposition parties speak out strongly against these machinations by the PPP. Mr. Robert Corbin has to be very vocal on this matter to help clear up the concern by some that he is in some sort of alliance with Jagdeo. Further the needed coalition of opposition parties requires that the PNC has a reliable internal elections process.
Thus why has the PNC come up with such a complicated scheme to pick its presidential candidate? Why not have one voting session at its special congress with the voting arrangements run by GEOCOM?
Fitzgerald (Gerry) Yaw PhD

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