The time has come

The expected announcement by President Donald Ramotar on Tuesday, setting May 11 as Elections Day, would have no doubt ended weeks of speculations as to when Guyanese would go to the polls following last November’s prorogation of Parliament.

Elections in Guyana are always interesting times. Apart from the lively political discourses and banter on the campaign stages – E-days in Guyana are always fraught with lurking danger.

Little wonder, President Ramotar urged in his address to the nation, that the elections process be conducted in a spirit of peace and stability. President Ramotar like anyone else would be familiar with the Opposition-inspired violence that accompanied most elections since 1992.

His appeal to the security services to conduct themselves in a professional manner is also apt at this time, given previous incidence of excesses.

On the other hand, despite the apprehension that accompanies elections season, all Guyanese must be very tired of the political brinkmanship and the daily struggles since the opening of the 10th Parliament. There must be a collective sigh of relief as the ruling People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C) seeks a new mandate to continue its course of developing this nation.

It is gratifying to read Opposition Leader David Granger signalling that his coalition A Partnership For National Unity (APNU) will be looking forward to a clean campaign and called on his opponents to rise above the “petty politics” and “name calling”.

Granger must also show leadership and encourage his often enthusiastic supporters to respect the rule of law and not kick down barricades on Nomination Day at City Hall as was seen in previous elections.

The next three months will also provide the sternest test to our media operatives, whose reportage on political meetings in many ways than not influences the reaction of ordinary citizens. It is also hoped, that the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) resuscitates its Media Monitoring Unit, which though not empowered to apply sanctions on errant operatives, provides well-balanced assessment of each media house, which serves as a tool and guide in our reporting.

Media houses themselves also often come under attack from some political parties and this must not happen this time around. Already, Presidential Candidate of Alliance For Change (AFC) Moses Nagamootoo has insulted one of this newspaper’s reporters at a press conference and attacked its satirical commentaries.

This type of crass behaviour must not characterise this period as it often gives licence to ill-advised party supporters to attack unsuspecting media operatives.

Following the 10th Parliament, there could be no doubt in the minds of all citizens that the upcoming election is about serious choices between three main parties which all have something to offer. President Ramotar is seeking for the second time a mandate to govern. To push through the reforms and transformational projects of his party to which his immediate predecessor, President Bharrat Jagdeo had understood and ably did.

For the past three years however, Ramotar was confronted by an Opposition that used its one-seat majority to literally stymie every major project brought to the table. If nothing else, their stance has allowed his party to become more diverse and to engage with centre-ground opinion.

Granger for his part claims to offer a new approach to his party the People’s National Congress/Reform (PNC/R). His difficulty however, is that despite being under the APNU umbrella he is the “same old PNC”.

The AFC, had started out as an “alternative” to the two larger parties, but has quickly lost its way. Buoyed by its seven seats and moderate success in Berbice at the last elections, the minority Opposition has sought to project itself as the main Opposition and in several cases was able to seize the initiative from its senior partner, and has now called for the leadership of their proposed coalition.

The election is a straight fight between the PPP/C,  AFC and APNU – May 11 will decide the winner.