I have carefully followed the election process. During the trading of allegations of irregularities some have pointed fingers at Returning Officer Clairmont Mingo as a perpetrator of alleged electoral rigging in Region Four.
I say alleged, because to date there has been no confirmation that the second declared has had any legal disputes as to it satisfying the requirements detailed in The Representation of the People Act.
It has actually never been challenged in court. Yet it was superseded by acting Chief Justice Roxane George-Wiltshire in her ruling on 20th July.
Lest we forget, the Region Four declaration remains the only undisputed results of the March 2 elections.
In the Ulita Moore vs. Reeaz Holladar and Bharrat Jagdeo case before Justice Franklyn Holder, the court recognised that any questions surrounding the validity of the declared results could only be addressed in an Election Petition.
This was agreed to by Mr. Jagdeo’s counsel, Attorney-at-law Douglas Mendes. Unfortunately, bowing to international pressure President David Granger agreed to a recount that has proven to be quite a revealing disaster.
Others have pointed fingers of accusation at Leader of the PPP/C Bharrat Jagdeo, identified as the mastermind behind the massive irregularities–much of which is a soft word for rigging–unearthed during the recount in PPP areas.
Whereas in the count there were allegations, the recount confirmed widespread irregularities (massive rigging) in all ten electoral districts. None has denied this. Even the CARICOM team witnessing only 18% of the recount noted it to be only “reasonably credible.”
The ugly truth today is, Guyana 2020 elections have brought us at a crossroads with the possibility of electing a government from two choices, both of which are stained by claims of electoral rigging.
The first accused rigger is disgraced, condemned and demonised. In the case of the second identified rigger there is massive evidence but persons are being asked to ignore it. In the instance of this second rigger, their misdeeds are glamourised, protected and glorified. Some want us to deny one rigger and accept the other rigger, to turn a blind eye to the bigger violator and embrace the skullduggery that was exposed during the recount.
They want us to lay a legal foundation in Guyana for acceptable crimes, to reward electoral thievery (rigging) that is in clear daylight, presumptuous and unrelenting.
We are being pushed to declare an election that will place a stain on Guyana that the mighty Kaieteur and all the waters of Guyana will never be able to wash away.
We are being asked as adults to teach our children, the youth, our next generation that fraud in high offices are condoned depending on who is breaking the law and who is benefiting. It is being reinforced in this society that wrongdoing by one group is approved and good but evil for another group, whether perceived or real.
We are being pushed to set up a society where might is right and some will never enjoy justice for they are powerless.
We could see a society where truth no longer matters and it is determined by those in power, high places, and supported by greater powers, not by law and fundamental principles.
Such a society will see some placed on the fringes and marginalised to nothingness because they are deemed to be unworthy of equal rights and opportunities.
I call on those law abiding officers who are wedded to their responsibility, as the third arm of government in building a just and moral society, not to choose a celebrated thief (rigger) over a non-celebrated thief (rigger).
I recognise there are some good and bad elements in every profession. Some will compromise their profession, destroy the lives of others and unleash a bloodbath in Guyana to hold on to a visa, out of partisanship or for 30 pieces of silver.
My appeal here is to the better angels in each of you, those guided by the Rule of Law and who have a moral compass. Guyana and only Guyana must come out victorious from these elections and for this to happen our judicial system must not be compromised by political actors, within or without, who are driven only by a political agenda to reward a rigger that they approve of.
The Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) promised a “credible count” declared as per intent. Society expects no more, no less. One can argue safely that both counts would lack credibility by virtue of the second count revealing what is in the first count.
A credible GECOM/Commissioners should disassociate from any declaration emanating from these elections.
Lincoln Lewis
