TROUBLING TIMES AHEAD

Sep 28, 2015 Editorial

The decision by Bharat Jagdeo and the PPP to file a petition with the High Court to declare the 2015 General and Regional elections null and void has left many, including some supporters of the PPP bitter and others supportive of it, but it cannot detract from the need for both parties to move forward and get down to the work of running the country and improving the welfare of the people. That is the mandate given to them by the people.
Indeed, the decision of the High Court to accept the petition shows at the very least that there is a genuine legal case to be resolved and that the claimant is not being frivolous or vexatious.
It is a victory, though small, for the PPP. It is in the public interest that a legal decision be sought on the matters raised in the court petition, including the scope of the powers of the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) to deny the PPP’s request to have a recount of the votes.
Accepting the petition should not be confused with a substantive ruling in the overall case, which can take many months, if not years, before any decision is made.
And any further challenge by either the opposition or the government at the Court of Appeal may prolong the proceedings for many years. In the meantime, the APNU+AFC government remains legitimate and must continue to govern the country in the interest of all until such time the High Court renders its decision.
The decision may or may not please everyone but it must be respected.
The election petition filed by the PPP is not unprecedented in Guyana. The nation has been down this path before and has been able to act with the requisite degree of maturity to ensure that the judicial process is respected and the business of governing the country is not affected.
In the late 1960s and 1970s, several petitions were filed by the leader of the PPP, the late Dr. Cheddi Jagan, to annul the elections won by the late Forbes Burnham PNC government which he claimed were rigged.
In 1997, 2001 and 2006, petitions were also filed with the High Court by the PNC, which claimed that the PPP had rigged the elections. All the petitions were dismissed. Not to be out-matched, the AFC also filed a petition against the PPP in 2006. claiming that the PPP had stolen a seat that the AFC had won in Linden. That decision was rendered five years later in favor of the PPP.
It is crucial that the petition filed by the PPP is once again before the High Court for determination. To leave it to public political feuding and squabbling between the government and the opposition would create uncertainty and instability and distract the APNU+AFC government to deal with the very real socio-economic issues and the external challenges facing the country.
Internally, GUYSUCO is bankrupt and depressed prices for rice, gold and bauxite have made the economic situation gloomy and is likely to get worse if urgent measures are not taken by the government to recruit qualified persons from the diaspora to help uplift the economy and restore confidence in the people.
The country is faced with security threats ranging from street crimes to home invasions and to armed robberies and murders which have taken their toll on the people.
Externally, Guyana faces new threats of an invasion from Venezuela which has amassed troops, tanks and missiles on its border.
As the country approaches its 50th year of independence, everyone should set aside their differences and celebrate as one people; one nation. While the nation awaits the verdict of the High Court on the election petition, it would be appreciated if the parties focus on uniting the races under the guise of a free people to defend Guyana with dignity and face the future with pride and joy.
The people should express confidence and gratitude to those who have guided the nation through uncertain economic and political waters in the past and will again steer it in the right direction in the future in these troubling times.

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