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Dear Editor
Response is made to Frederick Kissoon’s article in his 19th January column where he accused me in my capacity as General Secretary of the Guyana Trades Union Congress (GTUC) for supporting rigged election, deliberately and maliciously dragging the GTUC into his attack. Such a statement made by a writer of Kissoon’s calibre, one who has influence through the media, is not to be taken lightly for clearly there is an intent not only to besmirch my character but to drag the GTUC into the fray of alleged support for “election rigging.”
He uses said argument to also undermine the integrity of the formation of the Civil Society Forum (CSF) and to discredit the right of the GTUC and CSF, in its present configuration, to participate in any effort to strengthen and deepen democracy in Guyana. The attempt of a hidden agenda behind those statements is clear. It is an attempt to make me persona non grata and make the GTUC and CSF inconsequential in the struggle for the development of Guyana.
In a previous article of his, a blatant lie of me “always” with a cigarette in my mouth was published when everyone around me knows I have never smoked, and I am a very light social drinker. Whereas similar attacks and lies about other persons are oft ignored for a variety of reasons, including the fear of unleashing more vicious attacks and time spent, I fear neither and make the time. I understand the drive to destroy my credibility and silence me lies deep within the undermining of dissent and all citizens of Guyana participating in the democratic processes of this country. It is an effort to control and dominate those perceived to be posing challenges to this regime.
The CSF was launched last Sunday, two days prior to Kissoon’s attack, to help society to give meaning to Article 13 in the Constitution of Guyana. The Principal Political Objective of the society, as per this article, is to forge a “political system” of “inclusionary democracy” in recognition and celebration of our collective strength in building this nation. Given the dynamics in the Guyanese society it is not unusual that a forum of this nature will find itself subject to attacks by those who seek to operate outside of the interest of the collective. True to form, he who I refer to as the captain of chaos lashes out and seeks to undermine an effort as envisioned by the framers of the Constitution in Article 13.
The very article mandates “providing increasing opportunities for the participation of citizens, and their organisation in the management and decision-making processes of the state, with particular emphasis on those areas of decision-making that directly affect their well-being.” The chaotic one fears his personal relevance built on lies, lawlessness and ugliness will be threatened in a society where we can treat each other with dignity and respect and deserving of equal treatment so he concocts the lie that the GTUC “General Secretary supported the election rigging.”
There has never been any support from me, in my personal or professional capacity, and the GTUC for the 2020 Election which I repeat, based on recount evidence, was fraudulent and should not have been declared. The information revealed from those boxes during the recount process, in societies where the electoral body takes seriously their job to protect the integrity of the vote, those that failed to pass muster would have been discarded.
The Chair of the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) acknowledged the “grave irregularities” unearthed in ours. The People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) is on record recognising the irregularities but argued such must be addressed at an Election Petition. The PPP/C accused the Coalition of fraud and prevented the conclusion of the election process that would have led to them going to the petition only to have a recount exposing their massive fraud accepted and the Coalition going to the petition.
In our society elections are determined by laws and on a system of Proportional Representation. The adherence of both is important in determining the integrity of the vote and credibility of the declaration which the GTUC fought for.
GECOM created a new system (Order 60 of 2020) to ascertain the credibility of the vote after they were declared by the statutory returning officers. When those boxes were opened, irregularities and acts inconsistent with the electoral laws were discovered which none, with a modicum of decency, could deny. Yet GECOM said it was not empowered to address the lawlessness and foisted on the nation a declaration known to be riddled with irregularities. Those championing the acceptance of the 2020 results, including the chaotic one, are the supporters of rigged elections.
Every member on the CSF enjoys the right to vote. Whether all or some exercised this at the last election by voting for their party of choice is their prerogative. The exercise of choice does not prevent guarantee to inclusion, as per the constitution, on matters of the state impacting individuals and/or their organisations. Only academic nincompoopism, and one who enjoys chaos, political distortions and contortions would not recognise and respect this.
Freddie Kissoon is trying to denigrate the name of Lincoln Lewis and GTUC to make me and the organisation persona non grata. This has been the same strategy used for decades in Guyana against particular Black leadership and political party. He will not be allowed to get away with his lies providing the media does not prevent me from responding.
Regards
Lincoln Lewis
