Do the Powers that be still have dirty tricks up their sleeves?

Apr 13, 2020 Letters

DEAR EDITOR,
The events logically constructed by Freddie Kissoon in his column on April 7 of Kaieteur News, highlighting the inexplicable behaviour and dubious actions of GECOM officials, the Police, and state actors paints a compelling picture of a calculated collusion to subvert the 2020 Regional and General Elections in Guyana. It is alarming to observe the brazenness and moral turpitude with which the verification process of Region 4 was violated, resulting in an illegal declaration in full view of local and international observers, journalists and many decent-minded citizens. Thumping one’s nose at election observers is one thing, but to ignore the Chief Justice’s instructions with utter disdain exhibits an audacity that stems from a belief that laws can be flouted with impunity. It is a mentality that is more often characteristic of totalitarian states in which the bureaucracy bends to the will of those at the top.
Mingo operating like a programmed robot; GECOM’s Chairperson and CEO participating in a baffling disappearing act at a critical time; unauthorized individuals pulling spreadsheets from thin air; the police forcefully shunting away witnesses from the “crime scene,” and a Government Minister threatening Foreign observers with expulsion, all fit into a hastily rigged plot conceived and directed from elsewhere. Myrmidons, compromised public servants and opportunists always yield easily to a higher powers.
The act was so crudely botched that it required a paint over. Spin doctors in the form of journalists, political operatives, and “Statesmen” quickly sprang into action using the mass media to legitimize the rigging debacle while creating diversion. Protestors became troublemakers; eminent citizens were labelled as self-righteous hypocrites; and foreign observers were blasted as unwelcome meddlers in the democratic affairs of a sovereign nation.
However, when overwhelming condemnation stymied the attempted election “coup,” state actors, through lackeys resorted to legal shenanigans. Such actions had worked for them in the past when “voodoo mathematics” was used to determine that “33 of 65” was not a majority in the December 18 No-Confidence Motion, a decision later reversed by the CCJ. The legal dance these zealous litigants seems to have suffered some hiccups. The recount to which GECOM had reluctantly committed itself due to a court contempt hanging over the head of the Chairperson was finally ordered by the Appeals Court.
But a power-driven cabal hardly succumbs easily and may still possess some tricks in its bag of mischief. As the modalities for the recount are being worked out, GECOM’s CEO not unsurprisingly, threw another curve ball, ridiculously proposing a recount in 156 days. A PPP commissioner has countered with a 10-days recount. Even if the recount is fair and transparent, the integrity of the ballot boxes holds the key. Could the riggers still pull off a Houdini?
In the interim, some are now proposing the formation of a national unity Government. With the ongoing political gymnastics, is the climate right and do current politicians have the temperament and will to forge a viable national unity government?

Ramdular Singh

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