2006-2-11: The AFC did make a statement on the

Waddell murder (Stabroek News)

Dear Editor,

In my letter published on Thursday, February

9, I said the following:

"It is indeed ‘unfortunate’ that after

hearing so much about the Alliance for Change, we haven’t heard them take a

public stand on the execution of Ronald Waddell in this, an election year. I am

willing to retract this if indeed I missed it in the newspaper reports or if

they did issue a statement and it wasn’t reported."

I have since received the following from

Sheila Holder of the AFC:

"Please be advised that as leader of the

AFC, Khemraj did issue an immediate public statement of condemnation of

Waddell’s murder on the electronic media.

"It appeared on a newscast the night

after the murder became known and was broadcast in full on the AFC programme, ‘Alliance

On The Move’ a couple days later. Raphael and others were out of the country on

business during this period.

"Khemraj Ramjattan in fact called for

the Guyana Police Force (GPF) to move quickly to solve this brutal murder and

not allow this one in particular go the route of the others that were left

unsolved but to bring the perpetrators to justice to give some level of

satisfaction to Waddell’s grieving family and supporters. He expressed sympathy

to them and also called on Waddell’s supporters to use restraint and not to

retaliate as an eye for an eye would leave us all blind; but allow the GPF to

do the job that was expected of them.

"He also asked that the GPF increase

their presence in East Coast villages in order to deter any wanton acts of recrimination.

Of course you know Noel and I attended the funeral to represent the

AFC…"

I would like to publicly acknowledge this

response.

Yours faithfully, Alissa Trotz

2006-2-1

style=’font-size:13.5pt;color:blue’>7: The leaders of the Alliance have been on

Diaspora (Stabroek

News)

Dear Editor,

The heightened interest being displayed in

the activities of the Alliance For Change (AFC) is indeed refreshing. Such interest

can only serve to energize and propel us further.

The AFC has recognized contributions to the

daily newspapers by Bro. Dr. David Hinds, an uncharacteristically benevolent

article by Stella Ramsaroop, the concerns of Dr. Alissa Trotz following the

slaying of Ronald Waddell, and recently, the more expansive review by F.

Skinner now being supported by Paul Ramsaroop. As an aside, I have to concede

that it is beginning to appear that the Ramsaroop family’s concern for the

survival of the AFC is genuine. We view these interests and the sometimes

stinging criticisms as actual displays of genuine concern and support for the

AFC, as we are undoubtedly and expectedly being held to a higher standard than

is required by all others.

I hope Stella would not be offended if I

borrow from her article in the Kaieteur News of Feb. 5, 2006, when she quite

aptly stated of the AFC "…the people’s third force alternative lies

squarely on your shoulders now." Certainly, when the AFC was launched in

October, 2005 those who participated in the ceremony and were in attendance

felt the weight of responsibility that had been transferred from the shoulders

of those who had been battling for a breakthrough for decades, to the shoulders

of those of us in the AFC, and other parties, who have taken up the cause

because we believe that Guyana can only survive if administered a strong

injection of a healing serum.

The AFC has never doubted for one moment the

significance and magnitude of the task, and quite frankly we have found it to

be a humbling and at times an intimidating experience; yet we are persevering

nevertheless. Today, some months on, the AFC remains intact despite every

attempt to disturb and destroy it. We have thankfully remained on friendly

terms with all parties which formed the now defunct GTF platform and resolve

not to allow our relations with any party to disintegrate into open hostility

though the provocations will be ever present.

The principals and other leaders of the

movement have been on the road since its launch, introducing ourselves to

Guyanese at home and in the Diaspora, and have commenced the arduous task of

raising finance to fund our activities. We have been busy engaging and

attempting to recruit the best minds and abilities to support and enable us to

discharge the burden of responsibility that has been placed squarely on our

shoulders. One truism which we accept is that we cannot do it alone, and it was

to our great disappointment when the GTF platform went "caput," as

Stella described its unfortunate downfall. Despite differences in approach, the

AFC intends to continue to engage all the former members of the GTF and others,

in our quest to do what is best in Guyana’s interest.

Admittedly, we have not been doing enough to

give prominence to publicly communicate our position on issues and are taking

steps to remedy this situation. However, we have made various pronouncements

included in the speeches at our Launch, released information to the media, and

distributed materials. Unfortunately, because many persons living abroad feed

on the material placed on the online versions of the newspapers, and on second

and third hand information provided from friends and relatives, they are most

likely to miss the facts as they are, as was recently the case with my sister

Alissa a week ago.

As patriotic and caring Guyanese we in the

AFC are concerned about crime and security, the economy and job creation, and

good governance as being the issues occupying the minds of our brothers and sisters.

To this end, the AFC is studying and refining every useful comment and

recommendation on the above and more, that has been made by all stake holders

whether they be in, or out, of Guyana. We have stated the AFC’s position

against the call for an electoral boycott, long before others expressed their

views. We have condemned violence in all its forms, and at every available

opportunity so much so that on a recent visit to Buxton, the AFC was invited to

help mend relations with neighbouring communities; and have now publicly called

for national healing and reconciliation in a recently published advertisement

(SN & KN of Sun. Feb. 12, 2006).

Representatives of the AFC have travelled

literally from Corriverton to the borders of Venezuela and Brazil and have

entered villages and towns not because we wanted to share footballs and

trophies, but because we were invited by the people to hear from them their

anguish about how they feel about the decay that has set in on the body of our

motherland, and of their sanguine expressions of hope for a change.

We acknowledge that all questions raised must

be answered. Our commitment to the notion of servant leadership has compelled

us to adopt a bottom- up approach for inputs to influence and contribute to

designing an action- plan for change and development. We must listen to the

voices of those who have experienced and suffered the most from the degradation

that has taken place over the decades.

We recognize the need for expert advice from

those at home and just as importantly, from those abroad and this is where the

Stellas, Alissas, Davids, Skinners and Pauls, will prove invaluable if they

decide to put their shoulders to the wheel. With the AFC putting its best foot

forward, and with their invaluable assistance, we would be able to provide all

the answers to the questions and more in the most reasonable timeframe.

The AFC therefore urges all those who believe

in the inevitability of change and transformation not to snipe at it, but to

blow wind into its sails by offering encouragement, objective criticism and

tangible support. With the right attitude, support, faith, and timing, all

things are possible.

Individuals who have an interest in the AFC

and its activities may contact us directly at our offices at 354 Cummings

Street, North Cummingsburg, Georgetown, Guyana; telephone (592) – 225 – 0452 or

225 – 0455, or by email at alliance4change @yahoo.com; or by visiting our

website www.afcguyana.com; or securing a copy of our monthly publication The

Key.

Remember, Choose Change …It’s Time! Yours

faithfully, Raphael Trotman Chairman

2006-2-27:

Freedom of Information bill is the priority

now – Trotman By Miranda La Rose (Stabroek News)

Alliance for Change Chairman Raphael Trotman

is passionate about Freedom of Information (FOI) legislation and a bill that

seeks to bring this about, a labour of love for the AFC, is to be tabled as a

private member’s bill.

"Our main duty is to bring this bill to

the place of the peoples’ representatives and we would like to see how the

peoples’ representatives react to a bill that is going to open up press

freedoms and so on," Trotman said in an interview with Stabroek News on

Monday.

AFC Leader Khemraj Ramjattan has presented

the bill to the Clerk of the National Assembly. Ramjattan, who was expelled

from the PPP/C and another AFC principal Sheila Holder, who formerly

represented GAP/WPA, have refused to give up their seats in Parliament. And

while Trotman acknowledged that it was an issue, which was not going to go away

completely, he said the AFC was continuing to review it. "We continue to

act in what we think is best for the movement and what the people want,"

he said.

While Ramjattan’s absence is noticeable in

Parliament at many sittings, Trotman said he was pressing forward "with

the work that we have committed to; he is seeing it [the FOI bill] through.

That bill is before the Clerk’s office to be sent to the Chief Parliamentary

Counsel Office for review."

Trotman, who had resigned from the PNCR, had

also held on to his seat in the House for a while before withdrawing as he had

promised he would do. He said the withdrawal of the others would be in keeping

with their internal arrangements to pilot the bill through Parliament and in

time they would follow suit.

Told that there were other MPs in Parliament

and within the opposition who could have piloted the FOI bill, such as ROAR MP

Ravi Dev, who some feel the government and the main opposition would have been

more inclined to support, Trotman said that argument was "disingenuous".

He said no other MP had ever proposed,

offered to draft, or had been involved in drafting such a bill. "This is

our labour. We have also received assistance from the Human Rights Initiative.

They are in contact with us two or three times a week. So we have a commitment.

It is a private member’s bill. It is something we feel strongly about. While we

feel others would take it through we recognise that the others have never in

the past identified it as an issue that they wanted," he said.

Asked whether he thought an "AFC"

bill would get the required support for enactment, Trotman said, "I’ll

tell you what is important. What is important is that a FOI bill sees the light

of day in Guyana. If the government is as backward enough to shoot it down…well

then it just adds another nail in its coffin." If the main opposition went

the same route, he said, in 2006 when the cries of corruption, nepotism and

cronyism are so alive and rampant, then, its members too, would have to give an

account of themselves. Asked whether the AFC drafters consulted other MPs,

Trotman said some of them behaved as though the FOI bill was not needed.

Trotman added: "We have shown it to some

stakeholders in civil society. It is posted on our website. When we get a

signal from the Speaker that it is ready, we intend to hold public symposia on

the issue. We are going through the various stages."

Elections

Asked whether the AFC would support the call

for a boycott of the general elections due by August 4 this year, he noted that

the party had already said it was not in favour of a boycott based on ethnic

grounds which appealed to one ethnic group in society only. "That would

only reinforce the division rather than help the situation," he said.

He said the African Cultural Development

Association (ACDA), which put forward the notion in the first instance, should

have called for a national boycott, which would have given it credibility,

rather than appeal to a section of society.

While he could appreciate where ACDA was

coming from and the frustration it was expressing given the fact that after

three successive elections the lot of Guyanese of African descent has not

improved, he said there was a growing sense that the utility of political

parties and elections was lost and what was played out at elections was an

ethnic census. "We share ACDA’s concerns and sympathise but believe that

true power could be shown at the elections rather than staying away from

it," he added.

Asked about alliances and why the AFC was not

part of the Guyana Third Force Platform, Trotman said the platform was launched

before the AFC was, so it could not have been part of the initial process.

However, he said, after the AFC was launched a series of meetings were held

between the AFC and the GTF; the last one was in December when the GTF members

asked for a postponement of the talks because of an internal issue they wanted

to resolve. He believed the internal issue had to do with GAP Leader Paul Hardy

leaving the platform.

He said when he last spoke with Vision Guyana

Leader and member of the GTF platform Peter Ramsaroop at a Miami airport,

Ramsaroop confirmed there would be no further meetings between the GTF and the

AFC since the notion of what the GTF stood for was lost.

Alliances

Trotman said it was not a case where the AFC

refused to be a part of the GTF and while some had objections to the AFC coming

on board until Ramjattan and Holder had left Parliament, it was not seen as a

stumbling block to discussions.

But since the GTF platform has more or less

collapsed, Trotman said, the AFC has been making itself available for political

unions or collaborative efforts. The AFC has had talks with the Justice For All

Party (JFAP), GAP, ROAR and the Unity Party. "All are led by persons and

have persons within who are making or could make a contribution to

Guyana," he said.

Asked whether the AFC was courting these

political parties to join the movement, he said the ideal was to have everybody

under one banner but barring that the next best thing would be to have a

working relationship for a common purpose with a preagreed agenda should they

get into Parliament.

But isn’t that going back to the GTF platform

set up? Trotman replied that even though the third force concept came from

Ramjattan and himself about two years "predating Peter Ramsaroop’s

platform" they never claimed ownership of it. "We don’t say we have

copyright for it. At the end of the day, the most important thing is a working

relationship of third, middle, or, centrist parties, which do not cleave to the

two major parties."

He said all the political parties that stand

in the middle and are prepared to offer themselves as an alternative to the

PPP/C and the PNCR would be friends of the AFC in the preelections period. In

the postelections scenario, he said, the AFC would have to work with them all.

"We are not out to destroy the PPP or

the PNCR," he said. "We are out to change the political system so

much so that if at the end of this exercise the PNCR and the PPP/C collate, or start

to speak to each other, we would have been successful. We intend to create

space between them. It is for the people to decide how wide that space would be

in terms of how many seats they are going to give us. Both parties have people

who are quite worthy."

On current engagements, he said the AFC was

enthused with the way discussions were going and were moving to formal talks.

However, he said the fight was not for one group only and they could either go

as a union or as groups within a given set of rules.

In terms of preparations for the elections,

he said that apart from administrative matters, the AFC was benefiting from the

advice of some external campaign strategists.

To date, he said, outreach programmes have

had positive results and have penetrated traditional PPP/C or PNC strongholds.

These include some support in the Corentyne, West Coast Berbice and sections of

the community in Essequibo, Pomeroon, Port Kaituma, Mabaruma and the North

Rupununi. He said the support was encouraging but there was need to consolidate

it.

On the remarks by PPP General Secretary

Donald Ramotar that the upcoming elections would be a contest between the PPP/C

and the PNCR with no space for the smaller parties as they have created no

impact, Trotman said he disagreed based on surveys and meeting with the people.

He said people would either reject the third force change concept or accept it

all together.

Stating that Ramotar would be proven wrong,

he said he was aware that the PPP/C continued to pay keen interest to the AFC’s

activities and was worried. Even the Bisram opinion poll showed that the PPP/C

was not likely to get the 51% of votes required to form the government, he

said.

To charges that the AFC was bringing nothing

new to the political stage, Trotman said the AFC was going to push the issue of

healing and reconciliation, atonement and forgiveness and call on the people to

do likewise and put aside grievances and race hate. Already, he said, leaders

in Buxton have asked the AFC to help heal relationships with Annandale and the

process has begun.

2006-3-17: Sheila Holder has

provided yeoman service as a Member of Parliament (Stabroek News)

style=’font-size:13.5pt;color:blue’>

Dear Editor,

I am aware that Mrs. Sheila Holder, GAP-WPA

MP and the WPA whose women leaders identified her as a likely MP, are now at

variance.

This letter will steer clear of that issue

and of reports of what her new platform thinks of the WPA. I simply wish to

make sure that the contribution of persons who do good work in any area be not

clouded by issues that arise later. Her breach with the WPA does not erase the

work that she did.

I did not know Mrs. Holder well before she

became politically active. I wish to say some things about her, as a newcomer

to national politics.

As an MP Sheila Holder has been zealous, hardworking,

alert and competent. She reads every official document and always has a living

grasp of the issues. She reads the Auditor General’s Reports and seeks out and

obtains information relating to the work of the National Assembly, and the

welfare of the country. She is not shy of economic, financial or budgetary

issues, memoranda of understanding, documents from the multilateral or

international financial agencies, and of procedure; she has harried the

Ministers with questions and has been always articulate in communicating. I

know of her efforts along with a few other MPs to implement the changes to the

constitution made by the CRC.

When I was in the Rodney House as general

political handyman and co-opted member of the Executive, we visited several

villages, often with Desmond Trotman, the Centre Manager and my fellow office

jumbie. We even began trying to make young people in three West Coast Berbice

villages aware of the threat of HIV and AIDS. She drove us there, as we had no

other transport.

With a public-spirited supporter of the

GAP-WPA, Richard Finemesser, a non-member, she followed the WPA tradition of

ongoing service to the remote Pakaraimas, Region Eight, and assisted in the

formation of an empowering local organisation among the residents. She

frequently lamented the failure of the Parliament Office to serve her fellow MP

from the Rupununi.

Her request for office space at parliament

building, refused by the Speaker on suspicion, showed the narrow concept of the

rights of MPs and thus of the people they are seen as representing.

I know nothing of her early, formal

preparation. From the news she has been known as a consumer activist, an area

also occupying the talents and competence of an exceptional Guyanese resource,

Ms Eileen Cox, Mr. Pat Dyal and others. This pursuit seemed to penetrate every

aspect of public life often involving the thorny and complicated issues of

utility regulation.

It will be no exaggeration to say that,

because of the decision of the main opposition to boycott most sittings of the

Assembly in line with their view of things, for much of the time a handful of

MPs often one, carried much of the weight and brunt of the attempts in the

National Assembly to make the government accountable.

Since no one else may be willing in these

circumstances to speak of Mrs Holder’s service to the country I do it, aware

that the politics of the letter may be misunderstood.

Elsewhere I have regretted that MP Mrs

Backer’s most ingenious motion on the conduct of the Guyana Police Force has never

been debated, first because of the government’s stubborn refusal for about a

year to bring it forward and next because of her own party’s boycott of the

Assembly. A timely debate on that issue would certainly have made a difference.

Two years of negative developments might have been avoided or might have taken

place in quite another context.

I suspect that some of the personalities

named in this letter might not have chosen to be read on the same page as

others. I have not spoken of similar persons, but of persons whose service may

have gone unnoticed. I hope that this qualifies it as a non-partisan or

politically neutral letter.

The PPP also has resourceful women, but they

have been too cramped until recently with democratic centralism, as we were reminded

by Dr. Luncheon.

Yours faithfully,

Eusi Kwayana

2006-3-19: The Alliance For

Change is willing to assist in crafting a strategy to stave off anarchy

(Stabroek News)

Dear Editor,

If one is to take President Jagdeo’s recent

fulminations on crime, security, and politics at the sacred Babu John Memorial

site seriously, one would believe that there is no government and leadership in

Guyana. The President’s analysis is that the real power is growing out of the

barrels of guns held in the hands of a guerrilla force operating under the

auspices of the opposition parties of Guyana. The nation expects that the

Head-of-State and Commander in-Chief will display greater strength in times of

national upheaval and not be given to irresponsible and unsubstantiated

outbursts. To date, there are approximately thirty opposition parties intending

to contest the upcoming elections. To believe that one or more of them may be

involved in unlawful, insurrectionist activities is a serious charge which must

be fully investigated and proven, failing which, an apology should be issued

forthwith.

Certainly, in Guyana we have seen a

remarkable increase in the level and frequencies of crimes all of which have

certain common features namely, the use of force and the use of weapons,

including the lethal AK-47 assault rifle. The question is whether these crimes,

as they are still described, have a political motive or edge to them. In

October, 2004, the Commissioner of Police made remarks to suggest that the

criminal elements on the East Coast had a political agenda. This sentiment is

now being echoed by the President. If what they say is true then we are in

serious trouble and something must be done urgently and immediately to avert

the coming anarchy. Insurgencies take root and thrive where there are

governments that are incompetent, corrupt, and place continued enjoyment of

power ahead of making changes and reforms that would negate the insurgent’s

appeal. Most experts agree that a viable insurgency has three defining

characteristics:

1.

style=’font:7.0pt “Times New Roman”‘>    

style=’font-size:13.5pt’>It is organized as seen from signs of planning, a

hierarchy of command, and a distribution of function within its ranks.

2.

style=’font:7.0pt “Times New Roman”‘>    

style=’font-size:13.5pt’>It relies on armed force to advance its cause. This

armed force is usually deployed in the countryside.

3.

style=’font:7.0pt “Times New Roman”‘>    

style=’font-size:13.5pt’>The activity is not a brief affair, but lasts for

years.

A cursory examination of Guyana’s

circumstances establishes the presence of one or more of these characteristics.

This in itself does not point to any political agenda to remove the existing

government, or to re-arrange the political status quo. Experts have been

careful to point to the fact that criminal gangs involved in kidnappings,

narco-trafficking, and robbery are just as organized, and can also have the

self same characteristics as an insurgent force. However, where we are, and

what we are to do about it, are matters that should concern all of Guyana’s

leaders. Rather than repeating unsubstantiated generalizations we need an

intelligence led operation to ascertain and analyse what is taking place in

Guyana.

With the daring and spectacular assault on

the East Bank seen in conjunction with the disappearance of 33 AK-47’s and an

assortment of handguns, the fear that grips Guyana is palpable and can be felt

everywhere. Of all the weapons most feared, is the AK-47 which is often

described as the world’s most popular assault rifle capable of indiscriminately

firing 600 rounds per minute. One realistic observation put forward as to the

AK’s awesomeness is: "There it is, the AK-47. When you absolutely, positively,

have to kill every single person in the room, accept no substitute." The

military has a lot of explaining to do and seems oddly enough more interested

in who on the outside could have moved the weapons, than on those on the

inside, who must have assisted in carrying out the crime of the millennium.

Since the disclosure of the loss we have seen photographs published and heard

of DNA testing of heaps of human waste, but little else as to the serial

numbers of the weapons, and the names, ranks, and photographs of the persons

within the military who ought to be persons of interest.

The continued presence of these weapons on

the streets of Guyana is a matter of grave concern as we witness the steady

drift into lawlessness and anarchy. Every person, every organization, and every

leader, has a duty to stand united against those who would bring our country

into chaos. The Alliance For Change extends its support to the security forces

in their fight and remains ready, willing, and able to assist in crafting a

strategy to stave off the coming anarchy. It would be remiss and irresponsible

of us if we did not take the opportunity to point out that systems have been

too lax and someone must be held responsible. This situation if left alone

without drastic intervention has the potential to plunge this country into an

unprecedented dark and dangerous period.

Yours faithfully, Raphael Trotman

2006-3-31: The Alliance for

Change and the fine art of sales By Paul Sanders (Caribbean Daylight)

style=’font-size:13.5pt;color:blue’>

Oh my gosh! We have found a new gig that

pitches tasty foods, delightful drinks and a great company of men and women who

are just party animals. The “party” part is more important than the

“animals” part. There’s a reason for that.

Last weekend, the Mangoville Lounge was jamming

with Caribbean rhythms and brimming over with a colorful cast of Indo and Afro

Guyanese folks celebrating change. Lots of changes too!

The food was strictly Indian with a marvelous

touch of authentic Indo-Afro Guyanese blend, fusing tradition and technique. It

was one of those “home-grown” flavors that is a huge departure and

a fascinating time-out from the rum-shop/cookshop “authentic Guyanese

cuisine” that clutter the Richmond Hill – and some neighborhoods in

Brooklyn -areas. Well, that’s a good change. Celebration, c’mon!

But one thing remains unchanged in these

get-togethers. The bar is literally a watering hole for real party animals.

Like desert creatures anticipating a long, scorching trip in the sun, the guys

were guzzling up drinks and stockpiling them in their body reservoir for the

long haul. In a sense, the bar was an oasis, and no one was moving until they

were completely replenished.

The fundraising dinner that benefited the

Alliance for Change was in many ways a grand event – and a great adventure

in exploring Indo-Afro relations. Like the aroma of curry and the different

flavors of true Guyanese ingredients, Indo and Afro Guyanese were participating

with each other, exchanging notes, toasting and working together on a formula

to get rid of the disease that’s eating Guyana.

So how is it possible that folks were writing

out checks much bigger than their week’s salary? Because people were

investing into the future of Guyana’s politics. Like the futures market,

folks were convinced that a down payment today would earn great dividends

tomorrow – or next week. They were absolutely sure that they were

qualified investors and shareholders in Guyana’s future prosperity.

And how big is this market? As big as Guyana

itself. And the actual market segment is the totality of the voters list. And

if PPP outcast Khemraj Ramjattan is to be taken seriously, this market for his

political vision is enlightened by the madness that is developing in the Guyana

equation. His political premise is simple: The diffuse, fast moving threat of

social, economic and political collapse requires a fast, moving response.

To put it another way: there is a huge

windfall given the PPP/Civic’s ineffectualness and the PNC/R’s lack

of credibility to run an efficient government as an alternative. And anyone

with a sense of Guyana’s turmoil today will easily gravitate toward the

politics of change as a radical alternative. At least that’s what the

brokers are saying. But this is going to be a different ball game than the

commodities trading market.

The Alliance for Change believes that they

have just run into a political bonanza. Strange how they seem to detect

opportunities in a minefield of corruption, racism and brutal violence in the

land they call “home.”

So when pitchman Khemraj Ramjattan and

colleague Sheila Holder arrived in town last week to provide impetus to the

marketing strategy they were both aware of the political season. Both speakers

worked the floor, shaking hands, greeting people and extending personal

invitations while revving up interest in the audience.

In his discourse, Ramjattan started things

off by explaining the current position of the PPP and the PNC/R in relation to

the growing influence of the Alliance for Change. He warned that it

wasn’t going to be a walk in the park. He continued to reiterate the

differences he had with the PPP while he was with them; he also shared the

positions of Sheila Holder and Raphael Trotman who subsequently left their

respective base.

Ramjattan stated that the trading will get

rough (meaning hot clashes with PPP and PNC/R hoodlums); hard times will be

ahead but the payoff will be magnificent. “Panic,” he assured the

audience, “both parties are showing signs of nervousness at the sway of

the Alliance of Change. We are digging roots in the villages across the

regions.”

Damn right. The anxiety has already rippled

outside Guyana. The PPP support group in New York had deployed their

“crashers” Saturday night on a recon mission to evaluate, access

the progress at the Mangoville meeting. Confident that they were incognito, the

dumb, rookie spies misunderstood their welcome even though the ghost whisperers

had snickered satirical cordiality at their entry. And their “next

day” delivery of the bad news was leading story in their session.

In the crowded hall, Ramjattan quickly went

over the relationship of both the PPP and the PNC/R pointing out the evolution

of Guyana’s disaster. A “symbiotic” relationship he

synthesized, recalling some history to illustrate the point. In dismissing their

importance, he referred to both parties as “dinosaurs.”

There’s always something majestic in a

stranger who’d stop by to detail to you what you’ve always felt and

known. Guest speaker David Cosada, an ex-employee of the U.S. State Department

and currently a writer, gave a synopsis on the Carroll Thomas case. Remember

the visa scandal in Georgetown a few years ago?

David Casavis was an investigator in that

matter which required him to stay in Guyana for a while. According to him, his

inquiry was limited to the embassy case but the tour offered him a first hand

look at the rot and decay at the carcasses of Guyana’s body politics -and

the ever burgeoning corrupt bureaucracy in the PPP/Civic’s

administration.

To the supporters of the Alliance for Change,

David Cosada hit stardom that evening. His speech gave credence and bolster

confidence in the struggle to free up Guyana from the clutches of the

PPP/Civic.

By the time the speeches and photo-ops were

finished, people were throwing away money in this project. One man showed up

with $50,000. Others were happily casting their envelopes in the tithe basket.

Yup, big money. Big business. Big ambitions.

Ramjattan was right; nothing can be achieved without pumping lots of money into

it. People were authorizing contributions as if an explorer had just stumbled

upon the Golden City of El Dorado. Call it risky financial and political

behavior, but the dollar amount was enormous.

Whatever it is the Alliance for Change has

tripped up upon in New York, it seems to be working with an infectious appeal.

So deep the Alliance for Change has plunged into so-called PPP/PNC territory,

some say, even a few PPP folks were selling tickets in Queens for the

fundraiser.

The folks at Freedom House ought to feel a heart

attack coming on.

2006-4-17: More information

on poll issues needed from GECOM – AFC says (Stabroek News)

style=’font-size:13.5pt;color:#0031FF’>

The Guyana Elections Com-mission (GECOM)

needs to inform the public about the issues that ought to be addressed in

relation to the upcoming elections, the Alliance For Change (AFC) said.

At a press conference held at its Cummings

Street headquarters on Wednesday, the AFC said GECOM needs to reveal the

process by which an acceptable list of electors would be compiled for the

elections and how, when and through what process recruitment and training of

the some 15,000 electoral officials needed for the conduct of elections would

be accomplished.

The press conference, according to AFC

Vice-Chairman Sheila Holder, was the first in what is expected to be a regular

feature for the party.

The AFC said GECOM needs to say how and when

the 2,000-odd polling places, adequately provisioned with sanitary facilities

and electricity would be identified; when and through what procedure the

printing and placement of the Preliminary Voters List (PVL) for the

distribution around the country would be done; and what tested system is in

place for communicating results of the elections in the various divisions

within a reasonable time (by the end of polling) given the collapse of the

cellular phone system in the last elections and the protests, confusion and

violence that ensued when announcement of the elections results was extensively

delayed.

GECOM also needs to say what options it is

considering to deal with the various forms of multi-registrants if these are

found at the conclusion of the Jamaican Biometrics System, which has been

employed for that purpose. It also needs to say when, how and where ballots

would be printed for the elections.

AFC Leader, Khemraj Ramjattan, said GECOM is

not doing the best of jobs as regards these issues and needs to be more

forthcoming to give the electorate some confidence in the process.

GECOM has since advised President Bharrat

Jagdeo that elections will not be possible until after August 30, 2006. The

constitutional deadline is August 4.

The AFC also suggested that GECOM and its

secretariat, under the control of the Chief Election Officer, ensure that on

elections day every voter would be able to cast a secret ballot in circumstances

free from fear and intimidation. The party also called for respect for the

meaning of Article 161B of the Constitution, which limits the role of political

parties and their nominees in the conduct of elections, and which specifically

precludes them from any form of active management of the electoral process.

GECOM should uphold firmly the principle of equality among political parties,

which must of necessity mean the dismissal of the categorisation being peddled

in some quarters and which seeks to differentiate between parliamentary parties

and non-parliamentary parties as if the former possessed more entitlements than

the latter in an elections race, the AFC said.

Elections must be delivered under the

principle of ‘one man, one vote’, the party said, since GECOM must ensure that

disenfranchisement of eligible voters is a thing of the past and that there is

no multiple voting or potential for stuffing of ballot boxes after the close of

poll.

With regard to a delay in the holding of the

elections, AFC Chairman and presidential candidate Raphael Trotman said the

party would not mind if there was a reasonable delay of probably three to four

months but it did not want there to be a caretaker government in the interim.

Speaking of the code of conduct for political

parties and candidates, which the AFC drafted and invited other political

parties to sign on to Trotman said they were disappointed at the negative

response of the other political parties. He said the AFC had sent copies of the

code to all the political parties and was surprised that some parties said that

they had not seen it. Unofficial discussions were also held on the code as

well. However, he said, the AFC would abide by the code and the party was also

prepared to sign onto any prepared by GECOM, the Inter-Religious Organisation

or others once it was in keeping with best practices. Ramjattan was of the view

that the other political parties were not appreciative of the code because they

felt "the AFC had stolen their thunder."

height=1 id=”_x0000_i1029″ src=”images/LatestNews_img_3.jpg”>

2006-4-12: A STATEMENT FROM

THE ALLIANCE FOR CHANGE

The AFC, as one of the contesting political

parties in the upcoming General and Regional Elections, holds the view that

free and fair elections require adoption of the following by GECOM and its

Secretariat under the control of the Chief Elections Officer (CEO):

The ability of every voter on elections day

to be able to cast a secret ballot in circumstances free from fear and

intimidation. The CEO and his staff, in keeping with the Constitution and the

relevant electoral laws shoulder the responsibility for making arrangements for

efficient polling, counting of ballots, tabulating of votes and declaring the

results.

Respect for the meaning of article 161B of

the Constitution which limits the role of political parties and their nominees

in the conduct of elections, and which specifically precludes them from any

form of active management of the electoral process. Contesting political

parties must not be allowed to undertake responsibilities legally assigned to

the Chief Election Officer who is required to create a level playing field for

all contesting political parties without interference or coercion. Such

interference has to date undermined the electoral process, and created

unnecessary tension, fear and distrust. Our history of a divided politics which

generally permits unscrupulous politicians to play on elections-time emotions

and fears in furtherance of their own interests will only derail free and fair

elections. It is the objective of the AFC to prevent this.

Upholding firmly the principle of equality

among contesting political parties must by necessity mean the dismissal of the

categorization being peddled I some quarters and which seeks to differentiate

between “parliamentary parties” and “non-parliamentary

parties” as if the former possessed more entitlements than the latter in

an elections race. Equal treatment of all contesting parties therefore; require

that no party be seen to have an advantage over any other. All Contesting

parties should have equitable access to the state-owned mass media and all

other media outlets and should agree on an Electoral Code that sets agreed

standards for mobilising financial and other resources; should adopt standards

of behaviour for candidates; should meet all existing legal post-elections

reporting requirements and that should determine specific consequences for

violating all agreed standards

The delivery by GECOM of elections where the

principle of “one man, one vote” is truly a reality; where

disenfranchisement of eligible voters is a thing of the past and where there is

no multiple voting or potential for stuffing of ballot boxes after the close of

poll.

It is therefore, on the basis of these

principles that the AFC sees the verification of the Official List of Electors

(OLE) as a tool, exclusively in the hands of the CEO and his technical

personnel in the GECOM Secretariat to be used for the purpose of delivering an

acceptable Preliminary Voters List so certified by him.

Based on the Guyanese elections experience

and those in other countries, the contesting parties need to have a frank

discussion on the ways in which the vote can be manipulated; then the GECOM

Secretariat should be asked to indicate how these will be dealt with to ensure

one man, one vote.

The AFC feels that all fears and concerns

surrounding elections could be allayed through negotiation between GECOM and

the contesting parties and therefore recommends the use of facilitation by an

institution such as the OAS or any other credible institution to settle this

issue.

The AFC reserves the right to express

legitimate concerns as regards the slippages which have occurred to

GECOM’s timelines and opines that the public needs to know why this

happened and what is being done to remedy the situation.

In the meantime, other important questions

pertaining to the state of readiness of GECOM and its Secretariat ought to be

addressed and the public be informed about. These questions include the

following:

id=”_x0000_i1030″ src=”images/LatestNews_img_4.jpg”>What is the process by

which an acceptable list of electors will be compiled for the elections?

id=”_x0000_i1031″ src=”images/LatestNews_img_5.jpg”>How, when and through what

process will recruitment and training of approximately 15,000 electoral

officials needed for the conduct of elections be accomplished?

a.

style=’font:7.0pt “Times New Roman”‘>     

style=’font-size:13.5pt’>How and when will the identification of the 2,000-odd

polling places needed to be found that are adequately provisioned with sanitary

facilities, electricity, etc. be accomplished?

b.

style=’font:7.0pt “Times New Roman”‘>    

style=’font-size:13.5pt’>When and through what procedure will the printing and placement

of the PVL for distribution around the country be accomplished?

1.

style=’font:7.0pt “Times New Roman”‘>    

style=’font-size:13.5pt’>What tested system is in place for communicating

results of the elections in the various divisions within a reasonable time (by

the day’s end of poll) given the

2.

style=’font:7.0pt “Times New Roman”‘>    

style=’font-size:13.5pt’>collapse of the cellular phone system in the last

elections and the protests, confusion, violence that ensued when announcement

of the elections results were extensively delayed in the previous elections?

c.

style=’font:7.0pt “Times New Roman”‘>     

style=’font-size:13.5pt’>What options are being considered by GECOM to deal

with the various forms of multi-registrants if found at the conclusion of the

Jamaican Biometrics System being employed for that purpose?

id=”_x0000_i1032″ src=”images/LatestNews_img_6.jpg”>When, how and where will

ballots be printed for the elections?

height=1 id=”_x0000_i1033″ src=”images/LatestNews_img_7.jpg” align=””>

border=0 width=4 height=1 id=”_x0000_i1034″ src=”images/LatestNews_img_8.jpg”

align=””>

src=”images/LatestNews_img_9.jpg” align=””>

2006-5-1: More inclusiveness

PNCR cannot solve problems alone (Kaieteur News)

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Chairman of the Alliance For Change (AFC),

parties in the 2006 polls.

Trotman described the stage after the due

date for the dissolution of Parliament on May 4 as a “period of

constitutional unorthodoxy.”

He stated that the AFC accepts that the

country has to be governed until general elections are held and, as such,

supports the continuance of the current executive at the helm, providing that

the executive is prepared to abide by certain conditions. These conditions

include the acceptance that there is no longer a government and opposition but

parties contesting the elections. The PPP/C will be acting as the trustee or

custodian of the State and is expected to manage the affairs of the State

responsibly. Trotman said this means not abusing State resources, not

suppressing the political fortunes of other political parties and not utilising

State resources in select constituencies in a

discriminatory manner. “We believe that

the use of all State resources, including but not limited to the State media,

should be available to all contesting parties to ensure a level playing

field.” Trotman also suggested that police protection should be provided

to candidates of all parties contesting the elections, as what obtains in

Jamaica . Speaking on the current impasse in the Guyana Elections Commission

(GECOM) where the opposition-nominated have withdrawn from the Commission, the

AFC Chairman said he

shared the disappointment of the nation that

six competent men cannot ‘get it right’. He mused that maybe if a female

was involved in the process at the GECOM level then elections probably would

have been held by the August 4, 2006 constitutionally due date. “The

image of GECOM is of a broken, disjointed, and disunited group made up of

individuals, each clinging to narrow political and partisan interests,”

he said. “They may all very

well be right and they may all very well be

wrong but unfortunately the debate as to correctness is past and what we are

most interested in is a solution as to how to extricate ourselves from this

looming disaster.” Trotman stated that if no elections are held in the

near future, the country will continue to spiral out of control and collapse

will hasten. He pointed out that Guyana is faced with a possible constitutional

crisis because GECOM has failed to deliver elections by the August 4 date. The

functioning of the Legislative and Executive branches of the State will proceed

into an unprecedented and unwelcome mode of unorthodoxy,” he said. He

noted that such a situation last occurred in 1990 under the Hoyte

administration when the PNC used its two-thirds majority to extend the life of

Parliament. The ruling PPP/C has only 51% control of Parliament.

Trotman said every effort should be made to

avoid a constitutional crisis. He noted that President Bharrat Jagdeo and

Opposition Leader Robert Corbin have met to begin addressing the problems but

he reminded of the track record of talks between the two sides which he said is

less than encouraging.

“Once the rules of engagement are

accepted that the PPP/C and the PNCR alone cannot be depended upon to pull us

back from the brink, then we can begin in earnest to engage in serious

negotiations as to the several viable options presenting themselves, including

an extension of the life of the incumbent government with

conditionalities.” Trotman underscored his party’s position that

verification of the 2001 Official List of Electors is a must for the upcoming

elections to be conducted in a free and fair manner. He said GECOM has to

identify the form of verification to be used, since house-to-house verification

is just one form.

“GECOM needs to deal with the burning

issue that the list could be padded and identify the best way to deal with it

on elections day to ensure one vote – one person,” he said. Trotman is of

the view that there will not be a total absence of fear surrounding the

upcoming elections, in the wake of Agriculture Minister Satyadeow Sawh’s

assassination and given the fact that there have been disruptions at previous

elections.

“It is for the police and the Guyana

Defence Force to assure the nation that they could take care of the security

concerns,” he said. “We expect that they will be honest with the

nation and indicate if they are unable to do

so and, if so, seek assistance from the CARICOM security forces in the same way

we provided support to others in the time of need.” Asked about a report

that a recent poll conducted by US expert, Dr. Frank Luntz, which shows that

AFC could garner 25% of the votes if elections were held now, Trotman offered

no comment.

Dr. Luntz is an experienced pollster whose

company operates out of the US . Kaieteur News was reliably informed that the

recently commissioned poll showed that the AFC could win the equivalent of 16

seats on Parliament. This means that the vote in Parliament could split at

least three ways, with the PPP/C and the PNCR taking up the majority of the

other votes. Trotman refused to say if he is aware of the poll or who

commissioned it. But he did indicate that the AFC will soon take on board the

services of an experienced overseas-based campaign manager. (Andrew Richards)