The Indian Action Committee (IAC), on 29th February 2020, met with Officials of The Carter Center Mission to Guyana led by its co leaders’ Madame Aminata Toure, former Prime Minister of the Republic of Senegal; and Mr. Jason Carter, Attorney-at-Law and Chairperson of the Board of Trustees, and grandson of former US President Carter.
The IAC delegation included its Executive Member, Ms. Mowshani Lekhraj; Founding Executive Member Mr. Evan Radhay Persaud; Executive Member and IAC Representative on the ERC, Mr. Neaz Subhan; Founding Executive Member, Mr. Raymond Azeez, and its Secretary and Coordinator, Ms. Saira Alli.
The IAC, given the turbulent political history of Elections in Post-Independence Guyana, especially with regards to attempt at disenfranchisement of registered voters on the day of Elections, and post-elections violence, called upon The Carter Center to be extremely vigilant on Elections Day.
The IAC highlighted several identified electoral polling stations which have been traditionally affected by partisan elements by means of illegally crowding the polling stations, who have disturbed the peace and tranquility of these locations, primarily South Georgetown and several areas on the East Coast of Demerara.
The IAC also called upon The Carter Center to pay special attention to the immediate post-election action of GECOM Officials in all of these polling stations given the customary stories of stuffing of ballot boxes following closure of Polling.
The IAC is hopeful that the ballot boxes from remote areas in Guyana especially from Administrative Regions Nos. 1, 7, 8, and 9, are safely and securely transported to the GECOM Head Office in Georgetown.
The IAC is of the strong opinion that counting and tabulation of the votes must be done effectively, without confusion, and in a timely manner in order to prevent anxieties being unnecessarily raised among the populaces, which can lead to violence and destruction of properties.
The IAC is calling upon the Guyana Police Force (GPF) Commissioner Mr. Lesley James to ensure that members of the GPF are stationed continuously at all polling stations throughout the day, especially during the counting process to ensure that the General and Regionals Elections are free and fair and free from fear.
The IAC is calling upon all Guyanese Citizens to freely exercise their franchise which is guaranteed by the Constitution of the Co-operative Republic of Guyana, and abide by the results.
The IAC reminded The Carter Center that Guyana has a history of fraudulent elections during the period of dictatorship (1968,1973, 1980 and 1985), and which caused President Jimmy Carter to play a crucial role in Guyana’s return to democracy on 5th October 1992, the first free General and Regional Elections held after Guyana attained Republican Status, and the organization expects the Integrity of the process to be upheld and the Results to be the true reflection of the Choice made by the Citizens of Guyana.