Ugly incident in Constituency 8 in south G/town

Mar 08, 2016 Letters

Dear Editor,
Please allow me some column space in your letters section to speak about an issue of great importance during these historical local government elections in Guyana.
All over this nation election fever is catching on, with the first local government elections, since 1994. The enthusiasm of those running for office is as bright as the sun and the nation is abuzz as we set to overthrow old local regimes and install new ones via the ballot box.
Unfortunately Mr. Editor, there remains in Guyana some very ugly attitudes. As a student of political science it is painful to hear folks highlight that we are a democracy yet the de facto attitude is that of a one party system. Recently, I volunteered to put up posters for a candidate in Georgetown’s Constituency 8 (Stabroek/Werk-en-Rust/Wort-man-ville). We spent several hours putting up these posters over several days. To our dismay our posters and other campaign material have been torn down from the lamp posts in some parts of our constituency. It appears that someone is of the opinion that they either own the Guyana Political & Light (GPL) poles or that we cannot campaign here. These posters cost money to create and print and our labor (though volunteered) is priceless. So to return the next day to see your hard word destroyed is painful and disappointing.
Mr. Editor, I make no indictments of any political party or any of the contestants in these elections, but this illegal behavior must stop. Everyone has a constitutional right to seek elective office, barring any restrictions listed within the Constitution and the nation’s laws. However, some supporters of some candidates feel that the only way their candidate can win is by fear and not policy. On the national level we saw this sort of ugly, petty illegal behavior and it is sad that it has now managed to show up in the local government election. As stated this is not an indictment of any political party and its leadership, these acts seems that of overzealous supporters who wants their candidate to win. The actions of these people is not promoting democracy and nor is it helping their candidate win support and votes. What it is doing, is harms to the democratic process of elections and destroys our nation. We should not be so rabidly blind in our support of our candidate, that we engage in vandalism in an attempt to help them win.
Finally, Mr. Editor, I call on all contesting parties in these historical and important local government elections (in Georgetown and around the nation) to denounce these acts committed in their name. By denouncing these acts you are in no way admitting to guilt but clearly stating your party is operating above board and condemns these acts. If we speak as a collective in condemnation it is effective and our supporters would not feel emboldened to engage in illegal acts as a measure of support and loyalty.
Ty Talbot

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