PPP’s strategy to delay elections: Attack GECOM’s credibility and readiness

DEAR EDITOR, Permit me to share my concerns on what looks like a concerted effort by the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) to delay elections in an effort to better prepare itself to win, manipulate results and/or create societal tension. At recent party press conferences, the General Secretary Clement Rohee has made it clear that the PPP does not believe GECOM is prepared to manage national and local government elections. He highlighted a number of claims which are at best accusations without evidence.  Some included the padding of the preliminary voters’ list, others included GECOM’s relationship with the political opposition and GECOM’s ability to sanitize the preliminary list. These are all propaganda actions, more specifically, delaying tactics to provide opportunities for the PPP to withhold its signature to the preliminary voters’ list, a list that all political parties must sign after verification. Let me remind readers that it was the PPP whose hand was caught in the cookie jar during the last national elections cycle.  Your readers should be reminded of these events and made aware of the current tactics being employed by the PPP which indicate a number of things: (1) they are fully aware of the negative public opinion and sentiments about their tenure in Government; (2) they are also fully aware that the 2011 General Elections results was an indictment on them. The latter was based on the continued corruption, nepotism, violence and an unwillingness of the PPP to support fundamental changes to our Constitution. We now add to that the failure to ensure we have truly representative and participatory Cabinet and Government, a financially independent judiciary, a financially independent Parliament, a financially independent Public Procurement Commission, full installation of IFMAS modules and the need for a complete overhaul of the Guyana Police Force. In other words, the writing is on the wall for the PPP Government, and from all indications they are willing to do anything to hold on to power, even if it means putting 1500 new police ranks on the road to further repress and provoke the citizenry. I urge my fellow Guyanese to be vigilant and not get pulled into the PPP Government’s trap.  The change we seek starts with each of us individually. Mike Archer

The No Confidence Motion is about Guyana’s future

Dear Editor, Much has already been said about the no confidence motion proposed by the AFC against the minority PPP regime that is before the nation, and if passed by Parliament could lead to a general election. This is a very serious issue that everyone must grapple with, especially the leaders of the two opposition parties. To make it realistic and in the context of replacing the PPP regime, the question of coalition politics is very important and must be given serious consideration. If, in fact, the opposition cannot agree to coalesce, they must find a mechanism to get an agreement that will reflect the will of the majority of the people in government and in Parliament. The no confidence motion as proposed by Moses Nagamootoo of the AFC is not about the politics of today; it is about the politics of tomorrow and the next generation, and so we call on all Guyanese to take it seriously and register and vote. They cannot just sit back allow the next generation’s interest and future to be ruptured by the politics of a callous, uncaring and corrupt PPP cabal. This cabal is so selfish and greedy that they have not only taken the best ocean front lands for themselves, but they have now pawned the country’s pristine forests to foreigners. Do the people have a choice? Yes they do! The AFC and APNU have finally found the solution to deal with the rogue PPP minority regime that can be addressed within the framework of the Parliament. The flimsy excuse given by the Minister of Finance to spend $4.5 billion of the taxpayers’ money without Parliament’s approval was the final proverbial straw that broke the camel’s back. The AFC has made it very clear that it was no longer buying a pig in the bag from the PPP on this very fundamental issue because the people of this country deserve much better. Time is a very important issue, therefore we call on the Speaker to convene a special Parliament in early September to debate the “no confidence” motion. The Speaker is on record saying that “it is not such a bad thing if we go to the polls” and that he cannot blame the opposition. While we support the Speaker, we would also call on him to convene  a special Parliament for the no confidence motion. We believe that such a significant motion cannot and should not wait until Parliament reconvenes in October when the PPP will attempt to stall the process until next year. The no confidence motion is a detailed expression of how power, politics and performance are linked together and how they are being circumvented by the PPP for personal benefits. The truth is the PPP has already done more than enough damage to the country in that they have given away our pristine forests to Bai Shan Lin and the Indian-owned Vaitarna Logging Company, therefore the combined opposition must pressure the Speaker to act now and reconvene Parliament in early September. Delaying the “no confidence” motion could cause more destruction to the country. It could also cause the opposition to lose the next general elections. Just listening to the Minister of Finance in Parliament explain the reasons for his illegal actions, we can only imagine the torment and frustrations that went through the minds of the opposition MPs, especially Khemraj Ramjattan, Moses Nagamootoo, Carl Greenidge and Joseph Harmon. And as we understood it, the leaders of the AFC have laid their political future on the line for the country and the people and in doing so they have put the people and country first which is unlike the PPP cabal who put their  financial interests first. This is the ultimate sacrifice the AFC has made for the country and the people especially the poor and the working class whom the Jagdeo/Ramotar regime has abandoned for more than a decade. Their primary objective of the “no confidence” motion is to put an end to the dictatorial, lawless, reckless and unrighteous PPP rule for their contempt of Parliament and the constitution and their disrespect for the people. We believe that the combined opposition has an obligation to support the aspirations of the 170,000 people who voted for them in 2011. They also have an obligation to ensure that the youths of Guyana will have a political system in which they can have a bright future and in fact have free and independent choice in the exercise of their democratic rights. Guyanese must be assured that all is not lost. Rome was not built in a day. In politics, one has to fight for his/her rights and that means Guyanese have to stand up and defend their democratic rights and freedoms by any and every legal means necessary. Asquith Rose and Harish Singh

As it stands, the PPP-government is facing a majority vote-out by opposition members who have already pledged no-confidence in their manner of governance. Norton believes that the PPP will be embarrassed that in Guyana’s short post-independence history, it will be the first party forced out of office. He thinks that “delay tactics” will be employed by the government because ground response might not be in their favour.

So which party is going to win? APNU after the fiasco of the PNCs Congress, and the laziness of its leadership?

AFC?   Don't make me laugh.

Rather than focusing on LGE the opposition is operating on a flawed principle that because the PPP is bad that means that they will automatically lose.  What is quite likely is that Guyanese might simply refuse to vote unless APNU demonstrates that they can lead.

Caribny,

I region 6 people don't talk about the AFC. Not sure where AFC will get the votes to get a majority among the parties to form a government. PNC might get some of the AFC votes.

Skelly

Carib is far removed from Region 6.

You and I are originally from Region six and we know what the residents of Region six think of people like Carib.

Carib is more worried about Linden and the PNC. Not all of region 6 think that way. Remember #51 village has PNC supporters. Didn't the PNC under Forbes got a majority of votes in region 6? Not sure, I wsn't in Guyana then.

Skelly,

During the 1973 election we all remembered when the PNC army killed and injured Berbicians at No.63 Village, Tagore High School.

On the same day, at No. 70 Village Office polling station, angry supporters took away the ballot boxes and prevented the PNC army from stealing it. during the results that night, the results were announced and the PNC claimed that they won by a huge margin.

Later that night a GDF vehicle stopped in front of our house and kicked one of the ballot box heroes to death.

The next day, the PNC army showed up in full force and arrested many PPP supporters from No. 68 - No. 70 village. Those arrested were brutalized by the army. Three of my uncles were badly beaten up by the PNC arm because they were PYO supporters.

Oscar who recently helped Granger with the rigging was PNC top dog during the PNC dictatorship era. Granger is a very dangerous politician. 

We must fight for the rest of our lives so the the PNC must never be allowed to govern again. They can do so after we are gone.

Usual mumbo jumbo by the Asquith Rose and Harish Singh duo.

Simply bring it on and stop the useless blabbering.

DG can you please tell me where in the constitution got that thing where parliament can mek changes to the said document without 2/3rds majority?

Please help me out wid de resarch lil bit nuh?

Tell dem DG.

Bring it On !

PPP 52 percent

PNC 39 percent

AFC 5 percent

Others can fight for spoils.

PPP will govern the executive branch for another 100 years. 

Nansense weh yawl get dem numbers from, Dr. Baseman and I agree 

PPP 85%, PNC 12% AFC 3%.

Bisram seh PPP gonna win by 200%