Dear Editor,
The PPP/C had mounted a much more robust, well-organized and issue-oriented campaign than any of its political rivals. This was manifested in the number of well-attended and massive rallies it held throughout the country including in many traditional APNU+AFC strongholds such as Linden, New Amsterdam and Bartica.
For the APNU+AFC to now cry foul and accuse the PPP/C of ‘fraudulent’ practices before and during polling day is at best disingenuous and at worst a blatant attempt to mislead the nation and the entire international community on the fact of its defeat at the March 2 poll.
The APNU+AFC is now blaming the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) and the entire Secretariat for facilitating widespread ‘fraud’ on elections day. Nothing could be further from the truth! This is highly unfair and a slap on the face of the entire GECOM machinery, including the Chairperson herself, the Chief Election Officer, the Returning Officers and all the hardworking and professional staff who worked on polling day.
The recount of the ballots have re-confirmed the fact that the PPP/C has won the elections with a comfortable majority. The results of this elections, however, transcends party politics. It is a struggle to protect the democratic fabric of our society and prevent a return to the days of authoritarian and undemocratic rule which had characterized a significant part of our post-independence political life.
Our country is at the crossroads. We either move forward as a democratic, law-governed state or we drift in the wasteland of pariah states. Suriname, our neighbour on the East has already declared a winner even though elections were held only days ago. By contrast, elections in Guyana were held over three months ago and we are still to have a declaration made. This will go down in our political history as a lasting shame.
The Guyana Elections Commission, more particularly the Chairperson, Retired Justice Claudette Singh has a critical role to play in the preservation and consolidation of democratic rule in Guyana. All that is required of her is to do the right thing and declare the results emanating from the current recount exercise in keeping with her mandate.
The world is watching!
Yours faithfully,
Hydar Ally
