New book – The Case for Electoral Reform

Feb 06, 2020 News

The launch of the recently published book entitled: ‘Electoral System Reform for a Diverse Nation, The Case of Guyana’ will be held on Friday. This event will include a presentation by the author, Dr. Desmond Thomas, followed by a question and answer session.
It begins at 17:00 hours.
The need for reform of Guyana’s electoral system has been a recurring theme of recent political commentary in the Guyana media underlining its critical importance as a development priority. Moreover, some political parties in the upcoming general elections have highlighted electoral reform as policy objectives.
This book puts the subject front and centre, providing a comprehensive treatment and subjecting the complexities of the issues facing Guyana to an unparalleled level of analysis.
It makes the case for electoral reform as the most powerful instrument of political transformation in countries affected by political dysfunction and distress.
Tapping into the experience of other countries and the growing body of research internationally, the book draws attention to the unlimited range of reform options available. It examines the nature and workings of Guyana’s system with rigour and depth, exploring its historical foundations and showing its contradictions and inadequacies in relation to national development goals and experience.
It addresses the role of diversity and popular power-sharing proposals, challenging common perceptions about the effects of ethnic division, and showing that there are responses to the political problems Guyana faces.
Ultimately, the book sets out to demonstrate that transformation to a constructive and stable political environment to support development is attainable through well-conceived and executed electoral reform.
With the recent oil discoveries raising the stakes on political stability, this book can provide the necessary impetus for a unified country and needed electoral and constitutional reform.
The author is an economist with decades of academic experience and professional service. He has lectured at several universities at home and abroad and held positions as a statistician at the Caribbean Community Secretariat, Acting Economic Advisor to the President of Guyana and Lead Economics Specialist at the Inter-American Development Bank.
His previous publications have focused mainly on macroeconomic issues but this book reflects a wider interest in themes related to improving social living standards and conditions.
The book launch and signing takes place at the National Library (corner of Church and Main Streets, Georgetown) on Friday, February 7 at 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. A limited supply of paperback copies of the book will be on sale. The book is also available for purchase at Austin’s Bookstore on Church Street.

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