ELECTIONS 2006 – The Will of the People, Not of a Party

By Peter R. Ramsaroop

A free, fair and transparent process for this year's elections is of paramount importance to the voting population of Guyana. In 2006, we are looking forward to exercising our democratic right to vote for many reasons, including finally bringing an end to the rule of communist ideologies that have stagnated Guyana's entrance into the 21 st Century. Many countries in Europe and other parts of the world have already taken this bold step in order to revitalise their poor economies. This year, Guyana will hopefully follow in their footsteps. We, the people, must ensure that the incompetent or corrupt leaders are not allowed to continue to contribute to the ruin of our beautiful nation.

In order to have successful elections, or even elections at all, it is imperative that GECOM ensures that the necessary preparations for elections are met before the constitutional date of elections in August. In this column, I will discuss some of the essential elements that GECOM needs to be focused on and the rewards for success or the consequences of failure.

• The Official List of Electors must be accurate and trustworthy. There should be continuous and simple registration exercises to add new voters to the list. Adding complexity and inefficiencies to the registration process only serves to frustrate new voters and deter them from registering to vote. This list should also be free of names of deceased persons and others who are no longer qualified to vote. I believe that there needs to be a verification process using some form of Biometrics and house-to-house validation .
• The Official List of Electors by region should be printed and ready for distribution. Claims and objections should be processed efficiently and without greatly inconveniencing the voters.
• There should be printed Election Manuals and trained, capable election workers who are ready and able to perform their tasks. A Voter Education programme should be ready for implementation. Voter Identification Cards should be printed and ready for distribution to all qualified voters. These cards should be delivered safely to all qualified voters.
• The Media Code of Conduct recently signed by media owners, practitioners, talk-show hosts and others should be followed without fail. All contesting political parties and candidates should also sign a Code of Conduct and their nominations should be checked and approved.
• Polling places should be identified in all regions and contracts effected for their use. These polling places must be made fully functional with needed materials and equipment. Methods for counting ballots and security systems should be tested and in place.
• Communication is a key element during the elections. Systems for communication within all regions and a headquarters should be tested and operational.
• Finally, the system for disseminating election results to the public should be designed, tested and in place. In other words, all elections systems, procedures, logistics and operations must be tested and ready for implementation.

I believe if these items are not efficiently executed, Guyana will risk being thrown into a constitutional crisis for the first time in our history. The result of such a crisis is unknown. However, Parliament would have been dissolved, and we will have to work on the possibility of a caretaker government. This potential crisis should be sufficient pressure on GECOM to continue to act in the best interest of Guyana. Waiting until a few months before the mandatory date to complete these significant requirements has caused many questions to be raised by contesting parties and the media.

We must ensure the electoral process is sound and measurable. We must also encourage greater public understanding of the process. GECOM's work programme should now focus on the mix of critical concrete products or deliverables.

In November, The Coalition of Parties (GTF) said that they were convinced that there were two important benefits to be derived from GECOM setting indicative dates by which the deliverables would be produced. First, the dates would enable systematic monitoring of GECOM's efforts to accomplish specific targets in a timely manner. Second, whenever deadlines appear to be threatened, early corrective action would be identified and decisions would be taken by GECOM with the support of donors, political parties either individually, or collectively, and by the inputs of other stakeholders.

These deliverables being efficiently accomplished and measured should be the desire of all parties that are planning on contesting the elections. Those parties who seem disinterested in the process should answer for their complacency.

Historically, when the people of a nation demand change, it is as a result of a common consensus that their best interests have not been the primary consideration of the current administration and that it is time for a change.

Most Guyanese will acknowledge that something has to change within our nation. It is time to find our strength in the commonalities we share to build a strong and cohesive force by which to demand these changes. We need a common rallying point. What will rally our nation to stand together as one people? Perhaps “We Guyanese” can realise, for our nation to move forward, we must create the system in which all people feel they have representation with a government that is accountable to the people.

Let's reflect on the fact that our President is on a spending spree, seemingly to buy votes by race. We, as a people, cannot sit back and just comment on it, we must act. I have personally invested in our football program and support youth programs. However, I have to wonder why 20 million dollars was donated to football clubs when police wages or teacher's wages are not being increased.

With the mighty thunder of our voices, the resolve of our determination, the strength of our will, the support of our families overseas and the fervour of our young generation, we, as Guyanese, will take back our country. We will overcome. Guyana, our precious Guyana, awaits our triumph. Our country will settle for nothing less than free, fair and transparent elections. One that we can be confident truly reflects the will of the people.