The AFC is convinced that the ruling party is frustrating the operations of GEOM so as to force a crisis and consequential delay of the elections because of its internal problems, and to give President Jadgeo an extended or “third” term through the devise of an extension. We are of the firm belief that GECOM is being systemically stripped of its ability to discharge its constitutional mandate by being given inadequate and intermittent funding; by the closure of the Media Monitoring Unit, and now; by being forced to place its very important advertisements on the Government’s website. Apart from the obvious blurring of the lines by forcing a constitutional agency, that is supposed to be autonomous and insulated from political control, to advertise on a government website, there is also the very serious concern that ads placed on an electronic notice-board will not be seen by hundreds of thousands of Guyanese.

It goes without saying that for any electoral system to gain the trust of the people; such a system should be administered in an open and fair manner. All kinds of ills can pass unnoticed if the people are not adequately apprised of what is taking place with regard to the preparation of elections. The placement of GECOM ads on a website, in the context of Guyana, is unacceptable and should be halted immediately.

It cannot be that the likes of the head of the Presidential Secretariat and other luminaries within the PPP/C could have missed this obvious situation and so the AFC is left with the irrefutable belief that there is mischief afoot. Therefore, it will not be far-fetched to hear shortly, that the Chairman and members of the Commission are asked to resign, or are threatened or compromised so as to create a further crisis.

The AFC, as a parliamentary party, and expected contestant in the upcoming General and Regional elections, demands that the playing field be leveled and that the fairness and transparency must not only be seen to be done, but must manifestly be done so that all citizens, and political parties feel that the system is being administered fairly and without political interference and directions.

Our democracy has already been severely weakened by the absence of Local Government elections constitutionally due since 1997 and we call on all Guyanese to put aside partisan leanings and put Guyana’s democracy first by insisting that GECOM is given the resources, respect and independence to do its job.  

This nonsense must stop!      

END

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