What’s this we’re hearing about the Private Sector Commission setting up an Operations Centre to help maintain peace and order during the elections period. Now no one is suggesting that the business community couldn’t set up whatever it wants and call whatever it sets up whatever it chooses to, but you have to wonder aloud why the PSC of all people are setting up an Operations Centre to help keep the peace. Isn’t that a police function? Did the police ask the PSC for help?
Interestingly enough, while the private sector front men saw it fit to call a press conference to make the announcement we have heard nothing from the police themselves about the bona fides of this Operations Centre which it says will be linked to the Police Command Centre.
But the PSC not stopping there! Chairman Dookhoo says that on elections night itself the PSC wants a peace message from all the candidates. “Accept the results of the elections. Let there be peace.”
Now which law-abiding citizen and political party wouldn’t want to know that we can slip smoothly from elections into Christmas without any needless post-elections aggravation? But isn’t all this business about elections night peace messages a bit of an over-dramatization. Or is it that the Private Sector Commission knows something that the rest of us ought to know?
Interestingly, while the PSC’s release on the setting up of its Operations Centre talks about the Code of Conduct which the political parties have signed on to and which governs their behaviour before, during and after the elections, the PSC has nothing to say about whether or not President Jagdeo transgressed the Code of Conduct time and again. Credibility PSC! Credibility!
Incidentally it’s probably not a bad idea to have November 28 be deemed a holiday. Not that we don’t take your word for it that the Elections Commission is a “world class elections body” but as the “accident’ involving the minibus with police ballots proved, world class or not world class there are some things that are simply beyond its control.
Frankly, PSC, our own jury is still out on this Operations Centre thing. We believe that ensuring peace and security is a police affair and you never know what some people might read into the PSC going around playin’ police. Now one could understand if the business sector had chosen to seek to play the role of an independent observer, to more or less look at events as they unfold on polling day and make an end-of-event assessment. But when it comes to what appears like a Command Centre with all those maps and charts for the various electoral districts and most likely a retired army Brigadier running things, you have to wonder whether the PSC might not be setting itself up for a good deal of finger-pointing after the fact.
And as for the PSC Chairman’s pronouncement that the results of the elections cannot be declared on the same day or night…well……that may or may not be true but again you have to wonder whether the PSC Chairman isn’t taking a great deal upon himself by even pronouncing on such a matter.
