The International Community is looking

Mar 01, 2019 Letters

DEAR EDITOR,

The President lifted hopes for early elections in accordance with his Constitutional duties when he announced that he wrote to the Chairman of the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) to begin preparations for the elections. However, his letter contained two cynical caveats; one being that enough funds would be provided with the approval of the National Assembly, and the other that GECOM would be provided enough time to hold “credible elections.”
The implication of his letter is that elections will not be held by March 21, as required by the Constitution.
Clearly, the President has abdicated his Constitutional duty to GECOM, which will determine the time required. Two months have elapsed since the passage of the motion of no confidence and neither the President nor the GECOM chairman has seen fit to commence preparations for the elections.
As other observers have noted this situation smells of a conspiracy among the APNU/AFC government, the GECOM chairman, and the GECOM secretariat to defer elections as long as possible. GECOM has come up with every possible excuse, including that they are waiting for instructions from the chairman, who was waiting on instructions from the government. Now the government is being guided by GECOM.
The Constitution is very clear that elections MUST be held within 90 days of the passing of a no-confidence motion, unless a two-thirds majority of the National Assembly extends the time. There is no provision for GECOM to extend this time because it is not ready.
The government appears afraid to go to the polls any time soon. Fortunately, the international community is looking. Even though their concern is muffled it is there. Additionally, the Guyanese people may appear deceptively docile. It would behoove the government to observe the crisis facing the Maduro government in Venezuela.
The Guyanese people are equipped more than ever to safeguard their God-given inalienable right to self-determination. God help us if we return to the past.

Randy Depoo

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