– Rigging potential – Juan and Adam
Hello all. This being a Friday Feature, I’m often “beaten” to the tape by those who are published earlier every week. (Should I become a daily professional letter-writer?)
So it is that the Ethnic Relations Commission (ERC) “beat” me in appealing to the citizens – and electorate – to avoid interrupting, disrupting and even threatening opponents and their campaign meetings. ERC even used a word I planned to use: taunting (or “taunt”). Good for ERC. I know the Commission’s role under the provisions of Article 212D of the Constitution. But how effective has the ERC ever been in fostering true “social cohesion”? (And by the way, whatever happened to our Human Rights Commission?)
Well this is my own appeal to the hyped-up supporters of the various election (campaign) contestants to desist from intimidation, threats, bullyism and even actual violence when opponents hold meetings in all communities. (His Excellency just stated that there are no longer (PPP) “strongholds! (Oh yes?) If there are Constitutional and normal civil rights allowing any candidate to campaign to attract votes anywhere in Guyana, why should some be molested, harassed and hounded out of certain communities? His Excellency is allowed everywhere!
And which Parties’ aggressively-loyal supporters are more given to making opponents feel that they should not even attempt to campaign everywhere? Is defacing one Party’s colours more serious than gunshots-sounds scaring speakers?
I now again suggest to Party supporters blessed with peaceful reason: Stay away from your opponents’ activities if you know you can’t stand their messages! Stay home and ignore their presence. Promote peace, not conflict (PNC).
By the way, even though I recently read an interesting piece about the history, symbolism, function and (originally-militaristic) role of flags, I nevertheless submit to you that, in this relatively-charged, divisive period and environment, no amount of party posters, flags or banners can influence the votes of the respective loyal tribalists.
So leave the people’s flags and colours alone! Peace out!
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Rigging-knowledge: Juan and Adam
I risk boring my “regulars” by repeating personal regrets over not completing my own publication on the history of electoral rigging in Guyana. In any case I would have had to document the potential technological opportunities right within the GECOM Secretariat these days. Overseas consultants or no overseas consultants!
So it was, on my Birth Anniversary last Friday, that the PPP’s Juan Edghill got published a comprehensive piece on all the possibilities for election malpractice(s). From the Official List of Electors (OLE) to the multiple “opportunities” on Polling Day itself.
You don’t have to “like” the PPP Bishop to recognize his grasp of what is necessary for GECOM to prevent malpractice. I particularly appreciate his grasp of what can happen to Polling Places’ Statements of Poll; how seats are calculated form votes accepted and, as I’m always advising, the vital functions – and “opportunities” residing with the ten Returning Officers of the ten Polling Districts.
Oh, how are those Returning Officers (and Presiding Officers) selected by Officer Lowenfield. (Yuh tink dem observers “able”?)
Adam’s electoral epiphany?
It was my Personal Private Pleasure (PPP?) to see Kaieteur News Editor-in-Chief Comrade Adam Harris also expounding, in his most recent Sunday column, on the implication of a seemingly bloated final List of Eligible Voter-electors. Oh my-my!
Like Juan, Adam went to town on the possible “opportunities” for illegal voting and therefore, the potential for shady numbers and eventual final “miscounts”. I was/am attracted to his muted suggestion that when the official count for the Polling Place’s Statement of Poll is complete, it should be immediately transmitted to GECOM’s HQ as the Official Count for instant recording.
Welcome Home Comrade Adam.
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Mini-bus music – and politics
There is this (former) loyal PPP supporter resident within West Demerara. Late one evening she missed her regular favourite mini-bus to the West Coast. So she boarded one she wasn’t too fond of because she needed to get home.
Now this PPP comrade has decided to switch to one of the smaller, newer parties contesting the March elections. But only she knew of her decision. She disliked the dance-hall reggae music being played along the journey. Soon enough the Conductor engaged his regular PNC/APNU-friendly passengers in derogatory anti-PPP talk. She suspected they knew her to be a PPP supporter. To be fair, they also had unkind words for all the “new Parties”.
The Conductor of the PNC/APNU bus then started blasting the Farmer Nappy-APNU Campaign Soca Song. He was taunting the few “PPP-looking” passengers. But especially our one lady – passenger, the one-time PPP “comrade”. Why? She was Afro-Guyanese!
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Well please ponder…
● 1) My congrats to PPP Prime Ministerial Candidate Retired Brigadier Phillips as he addressed his alleged “Afro-Tokenism” as well as our “Racial Divide”. Scholarly analyses, erudition – and practical recommendations.
● 2) The former head of our medical council, Dr Vivienne Mitchell is a discovery to/by me. Insightful! Incisive! I would feel so safe in her medical care.
● 3) Just imagine! $55 billion (US) being forfeited to ExxonMobil? As you ready your (precious) “loyal vote”, consider the following: (1) You vote for your Party’s Candidate, (2) He “wins” and becomes a Minister (3) He hires experts/consultants to assist/advise him. (4) Decisions are made. (5) Because of trust(?) You are not to know of those decisions. Because your vote was blind trust?
’ Til next week!
