Tag: Elections

The one month extension to the constitutional timeframe for the holding of the 2006 elections has been the subject of much debate and I hope that it is now clear to all that the extension was made in accordance with the Constitution, the Representation of the People Act and the Election Laws (Amendment) Act. Another election to which reference is often made to prove that the results were infected by fraud was in respect of 1997. That election was the subject of an election petition case, known as the Esther Perreira case, and featuring some of the top lawyers of the day including Rex McKay, Keith Massiah, Miles Fitzpatrick, Doodnauth Singh and Ralph Ramkarran. It is important that any distortion or allegation of fraud is addressed by reference to the facts and perhaps helpful for all of us to reflect on other instances in which real electoral fraud took place.   

We recall that following street protests led by the PNCR, CARICOM stepped in and as part of the fact-finding process, Cross J. undertook a painstaking audit of the counts of the votes of the general and regional elections. The Commission found no evidence of fraud.

It is now 70 days since the no-confidence motion was passed on December 21, 2018. That means that there are only 20 days remaining for the constitutionally prescribed period for holding elections. However, observing the pronouncements of President Granger and the Ministers of his Government and his appointees to GECOM, including the self-proclaimed non-paladin James Patterson, one has to be forgiven for believing that such elections are due at the earliest, 20 months from now. Minister Ramjattan loosely introduces the doctrine of necessity, seemingly oblivious to the more basic doctrine of constitutionality while his colleague, Attorney General Mr Basil Williams is reported in another section of the media as stating that the “Constitution is wrong.”

According to Mr Williams, it is GECOM’s duty and not that of the President to call elections. GECOM’s Chairman, on the other hand, claims that he is waiting on directions from the President to call elections and that in any case, GECOM does not have the funds to conduct those elections. Both statements demonstrate a remarkable level of ignorance or are clearly opportunistic and politically motivated, notwithstanding a statement made by one of the Attorneys-at-Law at the Court of Appeal Cases Management that the matters before that court were about the law. What the attorney did not state was that attorneys take their instructions from their clients, in this case the politicians, whose sole purpose and objective is to delay the holding of elections. This is not about the law – it is plain lawlessness.