The A Partnership of National Unity and Alliance for Change (APNU+AFC) said the coalition welcomes recent statement on electoral reform made by outgoing United States Ambassador Sarah Ann Lynch.
In a statement the coalition noted reports in the media where the ambassador made several significant statements, two of which they respond to at their press conference on Friday. According to the Opposition they find the Ambassador’s remarks to be positive, valuable, and reflective of most of their positions, which is outlined, in its entirety, below:-
“With regards to electoral reform, the Ambassador is quoted as saying “Guyana should explore all options to ensure free and fair elections.” She reportedly added that, as some electoral reforms would take time to implement, it would be best to start making changes now and not wait until the last minute.
“On the introduction of voting-day biometrics, the US Ambassador’s position is informed and sensible. She is reported as supporting the use of biometrics as “one additional tool that can be used to ensure that elections are fair” as practiced in several countries. The Opposition parties have offered these very justifications and made these very demands. We therefore welcome these public statements by the US Ambassador.
“Notwithstanding the recommendations on electoral reform (including the necessity for a new electoral roll) by the various 2020 international election observation missions, and notwithstanding that Guyanese continue to distrust the election process, the PPP continues to unreasonably resist all attempts at improvements. The PPP continues to be deluded that a bloated voters list and a pro-PPP GECOM can deliver credible, accurate, and acceptable general elections. Elections with the present voters list and the present configuration of GECOM cannot and will not deliver credible and acceptable elections. The PPP must come to its senses and accept this reality and begin the process of ensuring the preparation of a clean voters list and the introduction of biometrics at the place of poll. Let us also re-state our readiness to discuss and facilitate all the required constitutional and statutory requirements to reach these outcomes.
“With regards the US Ambassador’s remarks on the need for regular Government-Opposition engagements and the US government’s readiness to act as good broker, let us state here as follows: we entertain no hope that such engagements at any level would deliver benefits given the PPP’s obsession with seeking total one-party domination and control. While many look to the President/LOO summits as the only mechanism for engagement, several other forums exist for inter-party discussion and agreement, such as the National Assembly, regional and local government councils, state boards and commissions, and joint task forces. The PPP has shown absolutely no interest in such forums. Instead, it has continuously sought to sideline and undermine their existence and activities. The PPP-chaired Parliamentary Sectoral Committee on Natural Resources, for example, has never met during this parliament. Opposition members have not been appointed to state boards and commissions. Opposition-led local councils are being by-passed and mistreated. The list goes on.
“Furthermore, Government-Opposition engagements would bear no fruit also because of the PPP’s obsession with secrecy and disdain for transparency. Meaningful dialogue requires that the Opposition have access to many of the documents and information the PPP hides from the Guyanese people. For example, the financial and other aspects of the Gas-to-Energy project are cloaked in secrecy. Likewise, the government does not share Esso’s cost recovery statements and its expenditure forecasts for exploration, development, and production. How can there be serious engagement when the Government does not have an interest in transparency and accountability.
“However, for the record, let us be crystal clear: we stand ready to engage the government in good-faith talks on needed electoral reforms in time for the 2025 general election.”
