Dear Editor,
By all accounts Dr. Keshav ‘Bud’ Mangal, the longest serving Commissioner of the Guyana Elections Commission who died on the 2nd October, was a passionate advocate for electoral justice. There is a little known story that needs to be told.
During the 1973 Guyana General Elections, Dr. Mangal was a candidate for the Liberator Party of which I was the leader.
At the end of the voting day, we drove to Enterprise to visit a polling station. What we saw was most astonishing. There was heavy military and police presence and after much official resistance we were allowed to gain entry. Ballot boxes were made of wood, many were wet and the tops were being sealed with scotch tape. There were no padlocks.
With great difficulty I managed to accompany the army trucks for but a short distance. Buddy drove on to the corner of Thomas Street and Vlissengen Road where he sat patiently for hours in his car with the lights off. To his horror and surprise, his worst suspicions were realised. Army trucks were seen taking the boxes to the GDF and Eve Leary Headquarters, not to the central polling station.
Freedom House was informed, photographs were taken and the public was then made aware of the machinations of our unique electoral process.
Subsequently, I was charged with publication of seditious libel for making public an official document directing the so called independent Elections Commission, the GDF and the Police, to transport the boxes to the GDF and Police Headquarters and to take every measure necessary to prevent the boxes from being followed. Two people lost their lives trying to do so, Jagan Ramessar and Bholanauth Parmanand.
During my trial a Senior Police Officer admitted in court that counting of ballot boxes took place at Eve Leary.
After a long trial my case was dismissed by Hon. Justice Lindsay Collins.
No wonder Buddy was so dedicated to the defence of the sanctity of the ballot box.
Yours faithfully,
Ganraj Kumar
