The tiny tropical country of Guyana in South America, with its recent huge oil find, was all set for explosive growth – if only…. But it seems like that is no longer going to happen. Already the United States and various other international powers have hinted at sanctions for what seems like a clear attempt to steal the 2020 General Elections by the incumbent APNU/AFC political party.
The slightest sanctions on a country as economically weak as Guyana would cripple the economy in the shortest time. – Patrick Carpen
The Guyana dollar is one of the weakest in the world, standing at a Ratio of 210: 1 against the US dollar. And the GDP of Guyana is also one of the lowest in the world.
Related: The Richest Country in South America?
Needless to say, Guyanese and the world with them, were excited that the new oil find would transform the Guyanese economy and change Guyana’s history for the better – if it hadn’t been for a long-foreseen spoke in the wheel – an unnatural lust for power by Guyanese politicians.
Why is someone who has already lived out his whole life pushing the country to the brink of a civil war – threatening the children of Guyana with a bleak and racially divided future? – A Question to Ponder
The Regional and General Elections held on the 2nd of March 2020 was a smooth and transparent process. All the international observers including the Organization for American States, the European Union and the Commonwealth agreed to this. The tabulation of 9 out of 10 regions was also fair and transparent.
The problem occurred with Guyana‘s largest Region – known as Region 4 or District 4. All went well up the tabulation of 421 out of 879 ballot boxes when the Returning Officer for Region 4, Mr. Clairmont Mingo, suddenly fell sick during the tabulation process and had to be rushed to the hospital.
A series of chaotic events unfolded at the GECOM office in Georgetown which included an alleged attempt to steal a flash drive, a bomb scare which forced everyone to evacuate the building and special forces entering the building.
On the 5th of March 2020, the Elections Officer declared the APNU/AFC winner using figures that were disputed by all 8 other parties which contested the 2020 elections.
The presidential candidate of the APNU/AFC was about to be sworn in when an injunction was granted by the high court to block the swearing in. At the same time, the country erupted into nationwide unrest as citizens came out to protest corruption at the level of the Guyana Elections Commission. This resulted in one civilian dead, several injured and several attacks on the police.
On the 13th of March, the US Embassy and the Organization of American States walked out of the Region 4 tabulation process citing lack of transparency and substandard procedures.
At present, the United States, the Organization of American States, the US Embassy and the Canadian High Commission, among others, have issued stern warnings to the Guyana Government of the dangers of electoral fraud.
Sadly, a handful of greedy politicians seems hell bent on robbing the children of Guyana of a bright future, and even sadder is the fact that they have their supporters among the masses.
People need to understand that Guyana’s riches and resources belong to every citizen of Guyana and not to any political group.
