If the Govt. is confident, it should call elections now

Mar 18, 2019 Letters

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DEAR EDITOR,
GECOM is always functioning and should always have mechanism in place to hold election at any given time, given our relatively small population. In other countries with larger population, election is held in a small timeframe and I am wondering if money is being spent on GECOM under false pretense or the body is naturally incompetent.
Immediately after the results of the No Confidence Motion, GECOM should have already change its gear into election mode and await orders. Instead we see them sitting, awaiting all the running around the ruling Government is doing to prevent election and I personally believe many within GECOM are undermining the process and siding with the Government to prevent election on the legal stipulated time.
Because of this action and the history of incidents during elections in Guyana, no doubt there will be disturbances should things not go the way it is supposed to.
I’ve said it before and will repeat, with a Government that have not fully settled into its position, they have seen the benefits that come attached to their jobs and based on their actions, they are not prepared to give up power that easily.
Indeed, they seem more corrupt and selfish than the previous administration and they are more obsessed in proving that they are better than the previous administration but the fact of the matter is that they are looking more racial and incompetent and while they are concentrating on that, their duties are being neglected or mostly wrong decisions are being made.
Editor, no Political Party wins election by itself and many supporters invested heavily behind this present administration only to be disappointed. Immediately after swearing in, most of the best positions were offered to personal friends and retirees, some were even brought back from other countries they chose in front of Guyana.
Today whilst their ability to perform is seriously lacking, money seems to be readily available to spend on them for expensive treatment overseas as they attempt to cheat death. After elections, this present Government embark on projects under the guise to develop/help communities but their concentration seems to focus mainly on one race, while at the same time, started to enrich themselves.
Their actions have caused tremendous damage to their reputation and the Party as a whole. Within the party, their supporters feel neglected after seeing their actions, some even turn their backs on them, including many who vote for them are also upset at their actions. In many agencies when you conduct business or seek help, you are given a royal push around if you choose not to “grease any hands” and some people cannot afford to and out of utter frustration, they would seek Government’s intervention or someone they know within the party.
Interestingly, their pleas would be ignored or again be push around or they bluntly refuse to help you and others who are closer to them could be seen getting some help. In Campbellville there’s a family well known for their support to the PNC/R. After the election, they sought audience with Members of the Government to resolve issue/issues they were having. After being pushed around, one visit to the Leader of the Opposition and a phone call, their problems were solved.
Today the Opposition Leader is being given some of the best welcome into their area and the government is not welcome there. Another strong party supporter spent the whole day at the Office of the President to get free overseas medical treatment for her mother and didn’t get the support.
Frustrated, she visited one former Minister of the PPP/C and with one phone call, her mother on an airplane heading for her treatment. I cite these two incidents because many know of them and many other supporters are being treated the same. It seems as if the PPP/C is more effective than those in and out of office.
Finally Editor, after the election, supporters and activists seem to be forgotten and many either get push around or are being avoided. As a result, they seek audience elsewhere and are given a much better welcome. Look at the gathering of the various political parties all over and you will see the PPP/C has the most mixed races gathering to support them.
You will see now many Africans openly support the PPP/C and accusation about them being bought circulating, but the reality is that they are frustrated with what is taking place and based on the facts/evidence, by comparison, the PPP/C is way better in managing Guyana.
As the election mode comes around, many stats/figures would be circulating around to prove their competence and many would just glance but they should not take that easily. One of the main propaganda’s is that the increase of the minimum wage. The Chinese seemingly are the biggest employers of laborer’s/sales rep but most of these workers’ salaries don’t exceed forty thousand dollars a month.
The hours are way more than the normal working hours. Apart from the Chinese, many other places practice similar tactics, and with the influx of Venezuelans, advantage is blatantly taking place. I know places employing Venezuelans where they have to start working from 7am, take lunch at 2pm and finish working at 6pm for $2,500 per day. Reports were made but nothing seems to arise from the matter.
Similarly, expire or defective food items are easily available throughout Guyana but this incompetent administration cannot seem to come up with a tangible plan to combat this lawlessness and daily they are boasting of performances. If they are confident, call the election, don’t prolong it to put mechanism in place for rigging.
Sahadeo Bates 

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