That transformational single vote margin

Mar 03, 2012 Letters

DEAR EDITOR,
With the November 28, 2011 election results still reverberating from the dismal pit of corruption and non-accountability throughout the length and breadth of Guyana, a little known fact is that Region One Barima-Waimi played a pivotal role in changing the landscape of the country’s body politic like never before seen in the history of independent Guyana.
It has emerged that APNU gained a Regional seat in Region One by having 868 votes compared to PPP/C 867 votes in the second round allocation of the regional seats. Below is an extract of the computation:

Regional One Election Results as per GECOM
Description	Regional Seats	Constituency Quota*	APNU	AFC	PPP/C	TUF	Total
Region 1 – Barima-Waimi	2	2,591	868	787	3,458	69	5,182
Initial Vote % of Constituency Quota			34%	30%	133%	3%
First Round Seat Allocation	1		0	0	1	0
First Round Vote Surplus			868	787	867	69
2nd Round of Votes %			34%	30%	33%	3%
Second Round Vote Surplus	1		868	787	867	69
2nd Round Vote Surplus Allocated			1	0	0	0
Total	2		1	0	1	0

*Region 1 Constituency Quota = Valid Votes of 5,182 divided by the 2 seats allocated for Region 1 = 2,591
The capital of Region One is Mabaruma with eligible voters of 9,738 and a population of approximately 24,275 used seventy-nine polling stations for the elections. In the elections, Region One earned the disheartening distinction of having the lowest voter turnout with 53%. Yet it was here on the northern tip of Guyana that history played an eventful hand and by a sliver of one vote dashed the hopes of PPP/C for a majority in Parliament.
As the reading and viewing public are inundated with meaningful discussions on representative parliamentary committees in the form of Committee of Selection, Economic Services Committee, Public Accounts Committee, and Constitution Reform Committee and such like, we much thank the folks of Barima-Waini for changing the winner take all out-come of elections past.
One key lesson here for the now majority opposition parties represented by APNU and AFC is that there is no region too far or location too inaccessible when seeking party support from the electorate.
However, permit me this irresistible segue in noting that the make-up of the parliamentary committees seem to be staffed invariably with the same individuals, albeit successful or long serving politicians, they generally lack the specialized knowledge required to properly fulfil their roles on several committees.
Such an occurrence would be fine if these committee members had the equivalent of congressional staff with staff having the expertise required to check, verify, validate expenditures and ask important questions as needed in the case of the Public Accounts Committee. Our first-rate politicians across all parties should pay heed to the need for attorneys, accountants, engineers, among other professionals, in meeting the public interest regarding the finances and governance of Guyana.
Barima-Waimi with its rich soil, uniquely Guyanese casareep and wealth of natural resources in the form of gold, manganese and diamonds, one of the more apolitical regions in Guyana, has provided the casus for our political leaders to work together across the full spectrum of Guyanese and not limit the selection, analytical and decision making process to party insiders.
Nigel Hinds

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