These are interesting times

Feb 03, 2019 Features / Columnists, My Column

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In this age of technology, we increasingly use the computer. We store so many things on the computer that at times we are lost when we cannot access our information. I got up yesterday morning to hear that I have been texting people from my Facebook account. I prefer to use the phone.
Try as I might, I still cannot access the old account. The information is that someone changed the e-mail address, which I now have. Perhaps I should try to change the password, but that is proving to be difficult.
I would inform every friend that I have on Facebook that I am no longer using that account. Any information that appears to be coming to me is from that account over, which I have no control.
Suffice it to say that I am somewhat discomfited. People use the Messenger account to call me. That is no longer possible. I will have to work out something else. But life goes on and there is a lot to life at this time.
For example, over the past few days there has been a lot of attention on the ruling by the Chief Justice. Of course, all eyes were turned to that ruling. The political opposition secured a no-confidence vote in the National Assembly on December 21, 2018. Immediately the call was for elections to be held within three months in keeping with the Constitution.
There is no movement in that direction, much to the anger of the political opposition. The reality is that when President Jimmy Carter came to clean up the elections process in Guyana way back in 1990, he succeeded in getting the commission to be less partisan. He also got the Desmond Hoyte Government to agree to the independence of the Guyana Elections Commission.
That is the case today. The Elections Commission has control of the elections. It has the responsibility to prepare the conditions for elections, and at this time, it has said that it is just not ready. Of course, one commissioner reminded that the government had released money for house-to-house registration, but none for the holding of elections.
And what is even more revealing is that the opposition had agreed that there was need for house-to-house registration. Given the situation now, the opposition wants the commission to forego the house-to-house registration.
At the same time, the government is pursuing all the legal options to challenge the vote in parliament, thus further stalling the elections process.
One can understand the frustration of the political opposition. It is certain that it will win at the polls. It has already begun the campaign having selected the Presidential candidate.
And here I must look at how we are in Guyana. The Presidential candidate, Irfaan Ali, is the subject of a court action. If convicted, his hopes could be torpedoed. He is also at the centre of allegations of academic fraud.
This matter is unresolved and while Ali is trying to tough it out, there are reporters who are still trying to get to what is the true situation. Ali has tried to explain the situation; even releasing what he says is confirmation from a university in England.
Also of interest is the dominant presence of Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo. Usually, the person leading the slate is expected to spearhead the campaign. Not in this case. And Jagdeo says that he does not intend to take a back seat. He is going to be the point man in selecting the Ministers should his party win the elections.
It was the same when Donald Ramotar was introduced to the nation as the Presidential candidate. Jagdeo spearheaded the campaign. And as can be expected, the loss was blamed on him.
But there is more to all this. While the people appear to be quiet, there is a lot of communication between them. I see the chats largely by a few people who seem to be representing the views of the majority.
It is a pity that Guyana has no pollster. It would have been interesting to see what the polls say, not that I place much store by polls. In Guyana, there is the tendency for people to say what they think people want to hear.
Barring all the talk about the elections, there has been a lot of attention to what is going on at the Special Organised Crime Unit. The deputy resigned amidst some confusion. Some claimed that it had to do with her accounting qualifications.
What sparked the talk is the effect her resignation would have on some of the matters before the courts. She did testify, but now that she has resigned even before the matters are completed, some are of the view that the defence would seek to recall her for whatever reason. That would be a problem.
But even more eye-catching is the sacking of the special advisor provided by the British Government. The advisor set about establishing his own investigative service. This is unusual and certainly a conflict of interest. The British had no hesitation in sacking him.
All told, these are interesting times, and they promise to get even more interesting.

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