Shocked at Imbert's Guyana stance

THE EDITOR: I am totally shocked by the stance by Ag Prime Minister Colm Imbert in taking a distant, non-interference position on the elections in Guyana.TT stands by and supports the holding of free and fair elections and in defence of the will as expressed by the electorate. That is called democracy.

If this is a sovereign country’s exclusive preserve, why did we oppose apartheid? Why did the Commonwealth send an Observer Mission to Guyana headed by former Barbados PM Owen Arthur? Why did the UN pass a Treaty on Civil and Political Rights of which TT is a party? Or is this a harbinger of things to come later this year in TT?

First, TT is indirectly involved in the two Observer Missions, that is to say the Commonwealth and Caricom Missions, that have both expressed along with other Missions now in Guyana, no confidence in the verification process in counting votes in Region Four.

Secondly, both countries are an integral part of the economic space that is called the CSME or the Caribbean Single Market and Economy.

That is the same archaic self-serving attitude adopted when Burnham rigged numerous elections left, right and centre and several PNM governments of Dr Williams turned a blind, ethnic-motivated and influenced eye and face on these rigging of the Guyanese electoral process.

TT must take its cue from the positions stated by the Observer Missions and condemn in the strongest terms the naked violations of the electoral and democratic process. It must call for a legal restoration of the vote counting and verification process in those polling regions of Guyana, notably Region Four, to allow the will of the people to be respected and prevail.

This country's government's position is tantamount to support for the hijacking of the electoral process in last week Monday's general election in Guyana after so much postponement and delays after incumbent President David Granger lost the vote of no-confidence in the Parliament last year.

Countries must refuse to recognise and have diplomatic dealings with the government of David Granger, should he be installed as President, until all officially sanctioned electoral safeguards, to avert rigging, are adhered to completely. The UN Security Council must intervene as this situation poses a threat to the peace and security of Guyana and the countries of the Caribbean Community.

This is not an internal domestic matter exclusively and solely under the jurisdiction of the Guyanese State as justified by Imbert. It is not a domestic political matter that brooks non-interference by TT. It transcends political and economic boundaries because it is a matter of the trampling of human, civil and political rights of the Guyanese people.

STEPHEN KANGAL

CARONI