Deepavali

Elections Day is Aug 28
-- President says security forces will be deployed around country
PRESIDENT Bharrat Jagdeo yesterday announced that general and regional elections will be held on August 28 and said the security forces will be deployed throughout the country during the period to try to blunt violence that has marred elections since October 1992.

In an address on radio and TV, he noted the “sad experiences” of previous elections, adding, “I am aware of your concerns and anxieties about security during our elections period, both in the pre-election and the post-election period.”

“…I assure you that the security forces will be on full alert. The Police and Army will be in line, fully deployed throughout Guyana for that period to ensure that a peaceful and violence-free climate prevails”, Mr Jagdeo said.

Violence, especially in Georgetown where stores were burnt and looted and people attacked and beaten by marauding gangs, has dogged elections since the watershed October 5, 1992 polls that marked the restoration of democracy in the country.

Street disturbances and other violence also dogged the 1997 and 2001 elections with the security forces being called out to restore order in and around the capital.

Despite concerns about the voters list by the main opposition People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR) and other opposition parties, President Jagdeo said he was yesterday informed by Chairman of the Elections Commission, Dr. Steve Surujbally that the Chief Elections Officer has notified the Commission that the Secretariat is in a position to produce the Official List of Electors, after having completed the revision of the List of Electors, as mandated by law.

“The Chairman further advised me that the Commission is in a position to conduct elections as mandated by the Constitution” Mr Jagdeo reported.

Here’s the rest of his address:

“Guyana is a member of the fold of nations that are free and democratic. The single most important feature of our democracy is the right of every citizen to elect a Government of his or her choice. The advice tendered today and subsequently elections are the most compelling evidence of the restoration of that right.

I am confident that Guyanese are united in the desire to live in a free and democratic society. The nurturing and consolidation of democracy cannot occur in the absence of free, fair and transparent elections.

The struggle led by the People’s Progressive Party saw free and fair elections in 1992 whose results heralded Guyana’s return to the group of democratic nations.

Since then, successive PPP/C Administrations have conceived policies and strategies, harnessed the energies of Guyanese and partnered with bilateral and multilateral institutions in promoting and entrenching the democratic content of national life in Guyana. General and Regional Elections have been held in accordance with Constitutional provisions and those elections have been observed and the process certified by the international community as meeting internationally accepted standards.

Elections in Guyana are entirely managed, controlled and supervised by GECOM, an independent body, as mandated by Articles 160, 161 and 162 of Guyana’s Constitution. The current Chairman was appointed from a list of six names submitted to the President by the Leader of the Opposition. The other six members of the Commission were chosen equally by the Government and the Opposition and appointed by the President.

The Secretariat, consisting of GECOM’s staff members, is appointed by the Commission itself.

I cannot go on without commenting on the role played by Guyana’s international partners in the preparations for elections in 2006. The donor community has provided GECOM with both technical and financial support, according to a well laid out and agreed upon agenda outlined in the Memorandum of Understanding and subscribed to by my Government, GECOM and the donor community.

As a result of that agreement, two Joint International Technical Assessors have been working with the Commission to ensure commitments are met and to give additional assurances of quality to all the stakeholders involved in the 2006 elections.

Our struggles for free and fair elections have many important gains. One was the opening to the presence of observers, particularly foreign but also local. Since 1992, successive general and regional elections in Guyana have benefited by the presence of international and local observers whose presence, work and assessments have contributed to overall acceptance of the results of those elections.

I am pleased today to inform you that this tradition has been maintained and hundreds of observers, both foreign and local have signalled their intention to participate as observers in the upcoming 2006 General and Regional Elections in Guyana. I am happy to inform you that some of those international observers are already accredited and present in Guyana.

We are grateful for the support of the international community and we assure them that we in Guyana are serious about free and fair elections as part of building and protecting our democracy.

I would like to commend the Guyana Elections Commission since in spite of difficulties, the Commission and its staff have been able to confront and overcome the many challenges and hurdles in their way. I am aware of the many concerns expressed by individuals and groups and the efforts of GECOM to address those concerns without delaying the process and mindful of constitutionally-mandated deadlines.

I am assured by GECOM that there will be strengthened and robust polling day practices to allow every registered voter to one vote and one vote only. The Commission needs our support in ensuring that these are effective.

The Guyana Elections Commission is independent and like all Guyanese I stand in defence of the discharge of their constitutional mandate. I have been reassured that the Commission has discharged that mandate fairly and in accordance with the Constitution and laws of Guyana.

It is a tribute to you as citizens, to the political parties and to the Guyana Elections Commission that in spite of the many hurdles that still exist in the conducting of elections, we have been able to strengthen and improve the electoral process for elections in Guyana.

Over the past several weeks many political parties, their candidates and operatives have been visiting your homes and communities preparing for elections. Subsequent to the advice tendered today, they will be returning in greater force, freely utilising all legal means to impress their political views and positions on you.

We are about to embark on that period during which political parties have their opportunity to present their plans for the continued nurturing of our democracy and for accelerating Guyana’s development.

My Government has worked to ensure that Guyanese live in a country where they all have a free choice as to who will be their President, who will be their representatives in the National Assembly and in the respective Regional Democratic Councils.

Many Guyanese struggled against colonialism and in the post-independence period for this right. Many of our sisters and brothers lost their lives in these heroic struggles. Guyana has paid a tremendous price for this freedom.

We must protect this freedom and selflessly work to make this upcoming period free from fear and violence.

Exercising your franchise, the right to vote freely, is a fundamental part of your right to live in a free and democratic society. I congratulate all eligible Guyanese who have made enormous efforts to register themselves as voters.

Over the next several weeks, you must express your choice, after listening to and considering the options presented to you. Whatever you decide, the undeniable fact is that the choice made is yours and yours only.

I urge political parties and their supporters to join us in an effort to ensure a peaceful and civil electoral period. GECOM needs all of our support and we must provide the Commission with the encouragement and the cooperation that is needed to successfully conduct the elections.

I am aware of your concerns and anxieties about security during our elections period, both in the pre-election and the post-election period. This comes from our sad experiences of previous elections.

While I expect that all political parties and citizens would exercise all caution to ensure a peaceful process, I assure you that the security forces will be on full alert. The Police and Army will be in line, fully deployed throughout Guyana for that period to ensure that a peaceful and violence-free climate prevails.

Let us work together in harmony to ensure that elections are held in a peaceful environment, providing optimal opportunity: for GECOM to effectively execute the tasks necessary for a transparent elections process; for citizens to exercise their rights according to law; for the media to responsibly inform the public; for certified observers to freely observe the elections from beginning to end; and for political parties to be able to present, openly and freely their programmes and plans for Guyana’s future.

Guyana has made important strides towards building a democracy and inclusive governance. Guyana has one of the most advanced constitutions in the region, but important parts of the Constitution remain unimplemented. We have strengthened our National Assembly, transforming this important body to a more meaningful partner in governance and oversight of the Government and its agencies.

Guyana has made significant improvement in its accountability agenda. At the same time, we have crafted and have been implementing an economic plan that has set Guyana on a path of development and prosperity. We must continue those advances.

I expect that immediately in the post-elections period all political parties despite their differences, must find a way to work together to promote a positive agenda of development for our homeland.

We should return to the task of completing the implementation of constitutional reforms and the strengthening of our Parliament to ensure greater participation and inclusivity.

I also expect the body-politic and stakeholders, in a non-partisan way, to address the issue of reform of the criminal justice system to strengthen its efficiency and effectiveness.

The historic Memorandum of Cooperation signed between the Government of Guyana and the private sector must be speedily implemented to restructure our economy, make it more competitive, thereby creating more employment and wealth for our people.

These are among tasks and priorities we must focus on when the 2006 elections are over and the national agenda is settled.

Our future is in our hands. Everything that we have done and will do must be clearly for the benefit of our children, by creating the kind of society within which we would want them to live and fulfill their dreams.

In accordance with Article 61 of Guyana’s Constitution, I am today proclaiming the date for the holding of general elections to elect the Members of Parliament and Members of the ten (10) Regional Democratic Councils in Guyana.

Thus having taken into account the advice of GECOM, and in accordance with the powers given to me under Article 61 of the Constitution, I today, July 21, proclaim that the general elections for the election of the President and for the election of members of the National Assembly will be held on August 28th, 2006.

In accordance with the powers granted to me by Article 61 of the Constitution, I further appoint, by proclamation, August 28th, 2006 as the day for the election of members of the Regional Democratic Councils of the 10 Administrative Regions in Guyana.”

JULY 22nd, 2006