Electoral rigging still necessary? When? How?

Bauxite, sugar, rice – everything `nice’

The Baby Jesus became a Christ. Why?

Hello readers, a pleasant Friday and peaceful weekend to you all. But the brevity of today’s offering may reveal that I wanted a time-out from the stressful mostly-depressing issues “of national significance”.

Never-the-less here are brief provocative remarks relevant to your electing persons to govern you and your state of Guyana. After the established perception and reality of votes-and-vote-manipulation –rigging – to favour one group before, during and just after polling day, is there still a need for electoral fraud these days? Just a few pointed questions, my own remarks, then an invitation for you to consider the issues surrounding your precious vote. Your support to help decide who manages our economic, social and political/governmental future.

As Guyanese elections loom questions inevitably arise: can the National Elections body, as currently constituted, oversee fair, non-fraudulent elections executed by its Secretariat’s staff members? (Even recent allegations of fraud from within have died the usual natural death!) Does it take Constitutional Reform and the new “formula” to institute a more professional, apolitical GECOM? Just when does rigging begin? By whom?

So far, I’ve let myself down by not producing my own publication on the history and techniques of vote manipulation in this land. Over past months commentators friendly to major camps have stepped in and up to offer their own insights on this most sensitive national issue. But just what should be done to minimise or eradicate electoral fraud right now?

You need not be an elections expert nor party scrutineer or analyst to “realise” when or how GECOM should be monitored now. Just listen to the false claims made during the just-concluded objections period. Note GECOM’s current concerns about “disparities in the cross-matching” done by the Commission’s own contracted overseas Gemalto. PNC executive and His Excellency’s Green House spokesman, former GDF Officer Harmon is now concerned that the aborted house-to-house registration data – if ignored – could see “over 30,000 persons” not making the Final List 2020.

I promised to be brief. The major parties have experienced experts. I won’t mention my “PNCR electoral knowledgeables.” But for the PPP I’ll recommend Comrades Rohee, Seepaul, Komal, Anil, Indra, Gail and its Commission reps.

Two considerations just to conclude for now: are the Commonwealth and other observers at the GECOM Secretariat familiar with the IT facilities to input eligible voters on the lists? And how are the ten presiding officers selected? Ho-ho-ho.

But still I ask: will rigging be necessary on behalf of any confident contesting party aiming for a specific number of seats? Discuss…

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Bauxite, sugar, rice – still `nice’?

These few paragraphs are motivated by the imminent production of the hydro-carbon/fossil fuel – oil – which will be catapulted as a major natural resource here – and the sustained contribution of gold to the economy.

Think about those Guyanese resources – oil, gas and gold. Then recall that just a few years ago needed foreign exchange was earned primarily by the export of our bauxite, manganese, timber, seafoods, sugar and rice. Remember sugar’s sustainability? Then quotas from Europe and “preferential” treatment were halted. Sugar’s contributions declined. PPP government’s colossal blunders managing that industry didn’t help either. Rice always “holds on”. Even amidst alleged fraud at management levels and some suspected greed by millers who purchase.

We now read of challenges in the management of our forestry resources – once a money-spinner. What’s going on? Current Chinese and Russian managers of our bauxite seem to be merely enjoying our taxpayer subsidies and massive concessions, with little returns to our Treasury. So as seafoods also contracts what will the election manifestos promise with regard to the management of these resources?

Why shouldn’t less than a million citizens benefit much, much more?

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From Baby to Christ-perspectives…

Am I allowing my personal “time” to run out? Why have I not yet studied the 1986 “Religions of Man” by Roger Whiting? Managing a working-class existence seems to preclude other noble pursuits.

Christianity and its Holy Bible with prophecies, gospels, historical facts and attractive literary myths should have been a must for my earlier attention. Including the Festival of Christmas.

Here are some perspectives, related to this celebration of a Divine Immaculate Conception, that you may be able to assist me with.

As predicted by the prophets, a Jewish girl in her mid-teens, engaged to a forty-plus carpenter was chosen and gave birth to a baby boy they named Jesus. The birth, in most humble circumstances, happened in Bethlehem. But when a very jealous king threatened to eliminate all baby boys born within that time-frame because he had heard that one was also destined to be a King, the parents hustled off the Baby Jesus to Egypt (Kemet) in North Africa! Why?

After spending some childhood in Egypt the family returned to Nazareth and the young Nazarene roamed, questioned and did his “Heavenly Father’s bidding.” As an evangelical Christ, he was described as Messiah – a Deliverer/Rabbi for the downtrodden Jews. He was anointed being the Incarnation of God on Earth; “sacred, consecrated, revered, venerated,” this Christ was crucified – executed Roman style as a threat to a whole earthly kingdom.

As you celebrate, contemplate how much of the above you understand and accept. Especially if you boast about being Christian – more spiritual than commercial. A pleasant Christmas of Reflection to you.

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Briefly, ponder…

1) The Pastors Party – the new People’s Republic Party – won’t get SASOD’s votes! No GLBT votes!

2) He savagely dug out her insides, deposited her down in the river with weights. He might soon be paroled! How “civilized” we are.

3) Guyana has/had the longest-serving Prime Minister, City Mayor, Acting Chancellor and CJ and trade union leaders. Ho-ho.

4) What do you understand by NRR? PLE? RLE? OLE? Election wise.

5) Name three (3) circumstances that can postpone/put back the March 2, elections date.

’Til next week

(allanafenty@yahoo.com)