No more overseas voting.

 

PNC used it to rig and we all know the consequences.

 

Those who live in Guyana should decide Guyana's future.

As you would notice, nothing above suggests overseas voting.

2011 AFC had a diaspora framework.

Dual citizenship is recognized de facto. All native born Guyanese (such as you and I) retain Guyanese citizenship until we renounce it in the prescribed manner through the Foreign Ministry. Only a handful of Guyanese go through this process. However, it is clear that holding dual citizenship clearly bars your from serving as MP, Minister, or President under the Constitution. It is just that this would disqualify about a third of our most senior MPs and Ministers from all three parties so we've all tacitly agreed to let this section of the Constition go unenforced. I noticed even some resident Americans on the Coalition List.

As for overseas voting, Guyana is actually bound by the Constitution and its international commitments under the UN Charter on Civil and Political Rights to facilitate overseas voting. Guyanese abroad have a Constituonal right to vote until they have renounced or been deprived of Guyanese citizenship in the prescribed manner. The current Representation of the People Act actually collides with the Constitution in this respect and is unconstitutional insofar as it prevents Guyanese citizens abroad from casting ballots abroad.

Regarding, the constitutional amendment which requires a seven year continuous residency for President candidates, I believe that is also unconstitutional in that it infringed on the fundamental articles without a referendum. Basically, one cannot create two classes of Guyanese citizens without altering the fundamental rights of the people. This is the same argument Jagdeo is using to overturn presidential term limits. The Jagdeo term limits argument is even more powerful in overturning the residency requirements for the Presidency.

 

Where is it in 2015 ?

I don't support overseas voting -  too much room for rigging.

 

The 7-year requirement is unfair.

 

They need to remove all restrictions to allow overseas Guyanese to serve in the Cabinet and parliament.

absolutely no. If you have sworn allegiance to another state you have no right to participate in the elections of the state you renounced. It is just a matter of principle.

The so call coalition will not live long enough to take a breath (it's called still born). The status quo will be the order of the day (PPP/C)

It's a matter of convenience.  That's the paperwork you have to do to stay abroad.  We need to understand that.  Does not mean Guyanese have no allegiance and loyalty to home.  Look at how people are fighting each other here because they care what's happening home - more than people living there.

That's a simpleton's thinking, you're excused.

People who took up residency abroad should not be allowed to vote.  Only people stationed abroad, overseas students, etc should be allowed.  The people who has to live under the elected government should be making that decision.

So the parties only want our money and tourist dollars?

 

The biggest barrier is the rule on not being able to run in elections or serve as MPs or cabinet ministers.  Not talking about overseas voting.

Tourism is a business, go go and leave as you desire.  Living under the Govt is a whole other thing. 

The coalition should let Ramkarrrane out to the pasture of history so he and family can experience the world of opportunities. No job for Ramkarrrane.

i always know you is a midwife

The overseas Guyanese will  bring fresh, new, innovative ideas to Guyana's management, vision building, investments, state system.

 

Not same old, same old from people who don't know better.

Good, so let them migrate and engage in the day-to-day affairs and solve problems, deal with the elected Govt.  They cannot sit in the safety of a foreign country and decide who rules over the people of Guyana.

base its good to see you are back on the board.

Came to push the PPP over the finish line, then I gone until 2020.

There are many people abroad who live in Guyana psychologically.  "You can take the man out of the country, but you can't take the country out of the man." They get up in the morning and read all the papers to see if there is change in Guyana.

 

Instead they read about daily murders, unsolved crimes, more govt thieving, floods, garbage, flies, mosquitoes, blackouts, red water, piracy, suicides, domestic violence including that perpetrated by the highest official in the land (the President), Guyanese seeking refuge in tiny islands, two people to a bed in the hospitals, pensioners living in hell, govt officials using the public purse as a personal piggy bank for "Friends and Family" etc.

 

That's why it's hard to stay in Guyana physically all the time.

 

The issue is that you have to make it easy for Guyanese to transition back to serve in high needs area.

 

 

Jay why do you want people whose lives are mainly outside of Guyana to be allowed to run Guyana?

 

No one who isn't permanently resident in Guyana should be allowed to run for office.  No one who doesn't permanently reside in Guyana should be allowed to vote in Guyana.

 

Because at the end of the day its the Guyanese who LIVE IN GUYANA, and not those who can flutter out when things don't go according to plan, who will be stuck with what ever evolves out of this.

 

Those of us who are resident outside of Guyana should offer our help.  But we cannot dictate what happens in Guyana.

If we have a problem with it then we don't have to give it.  If we go down there mess things up, and then flee its those who must live there who must pick up the pieces.

 

If an overseas Guyanese permanently returns home then he can hold office.  This doesn't preclude overseas Guyanese from engaging in business ventures, inclusive of consultancies.  In fact it is about time that Caribbean gov'ts learn to leverage the fact that we are US citizens, and yet knowledgeable of our homelands, to foster closer business ties.  But it should be in our capacity as overseas based people.

 

I do agree that there must be closer ties between entities in Guyana and the Guyanese diaspora.  But this shouldn't extend to voting or holding office, unless we return there permanently.

They live in THEIR notion of what Guyana is. What it actually is can best be described by those who live there.

 

Look at how many of us are still fighting the demons of the 60s and 70s, and refuse to move beyond this.

But should it be a 7-year residency period in Guyana before you can participate?

  Now THAT we can debate about.  Maybe either renounce your overseas citizenship, OR 7 year residency.

 

Do you wish people like Ed Ahmad or Roger Khan to own Guyana?  That is precisely why one must be careful on this matter?  There are enough scamps in Guyana, but at least they will have to remain in any mess they make, and face the wrath of the people.  Overseas folks just jump on the first plane back to Canada, JFK or FL.

Suppose the person is a first year re-migrant?  7-year waiting period?

At least we agree on something 100%

It's difficult to start parsing for every unique situation.

Oh, you did not know that???

If you don't bring in the overseas people who would give them sense on how to improve the place?