Theories abound as to why the turnout was so low at the recent Local Government Elections. I think it is quite simple. Large numbers of Guyanese could not see the point.
In an article published in the Stabroek News (26/2/15), the US Charge D’Affaires, Bryan Hunt, addressing a gathering of youth assembled by USAID, was quoted as saying: “We had protests; we had people who were determined to stand outside the Office of the President every day…And then we had prorogation and we had national elections… and then in the aftermath of national elections was the announcement that we were going to have Local Government Elections.
“And everyone got excited again. And the date was set for March. And the enthusiasm seems to have evaporated…The question isn’t if GECOM (Guyana Elections Commission) is ready. It’s whether people will turn out…Are we going to have an elections in which the majority of Guyanese go out and cast their vote for Local Government or are we going to have councils that are elected with 10, 12, 15 percent turnouts?”
This told us everything we needed to know. Who is the ‘WE’ in this statement? What does it mean when a foreign diplomat speaks in this manner with regard to the internal affairs of Guyana? Guyanese are a simple people but this should not be confused with simple-mindedness. The trouble is that the arrogance of many at the top leads them to underestimate the savvy and intellect of the Guyanese masses. The illusion of democracy and independence being peddled is wearing very thin. The low voter turnout was not apathy – it was a form of resistance.
Gerald A. Perreira
Organization for the Victory of the People (OVP)