East Coast Newsletter - DPI

A publication of the Department of Public Information

July 2019

East Coast Connection

LINKING RESIDENTS TO SERVICES

FIRST EVER AMPHIBIOUS EXCAVATOR FOR CONSERVANCY

LILENDAAL BRIDGE GETS $89MILLION RENOVATION

NEW MODERN, FUTURISTIC SECONDARY SCHOOL FOR GOOD HOPE

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EAST COAST CONNECTION - July 2019

Smooth sailing The East Coast Demerara (ECD) road widening project For a while, it seemed as though sections of the roadway between Better Hope to Annandale had been turned into an obstacle course of orange cones, barriers and “Road Closed” signs.

A few of those signs remain up, but most have disappeared as the Coalition government since taking office in 2015, has pushed to complete the work; sections of the roadway that had been stripped down to the bare dirt are now coated with a shiny, smooth layer of brand-new asphalt. Now approaching the finish line, the extension of the four-lane section from Better Hope to Annandale is expected to result in reduced travel time, traffic congestion, vehicular maintenance and accidents among other benefits. 

Reliable transport infrastructure is one of the backbones of a prosperous economy, providing access to markets, jobs and social services. Several other community and main road projects were carried out on the East Coast.

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New Bridge Crossing Since taking office in 2015, the Coalition Government has emphasised every child in school policy.

Towards this vision, the government has been working to create the environment, where regardless of the economic situation, Guyanese children can attend school. These are some of the effort enacted on the East Coast Demerara to ensure every child gets to school and stays in school.

Liliendaal Bridge This bridge had shown signs of imminent failure. One of the panels had detached making the bridge unstable. The rehabilitation of this bridge was carried out at a cost of $89Million and was based on recommendations from the Demerara Harbour Bridge Corporation (DHBC) Inspection Team and engineers attached to the Ministry of Public Infrastructure. 

Plaisance Bridge The bridge on the Plaisance embankment was potholed, which made it difficult for vehicles to manoeuvre through them. The structure was rehabilitated at a cost of $19Million. 

Good Hope Bridge The $23Million rehabilitation of the Good Hope Bridge, transformed the former acrow panel structure to a concrete one. 

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EAST COAST CONNECTION - July 2019

No Farms, No Food Farm lands are critical infrastructure, similar to roads and bridges. Without farms, not only would there be any food, but there would be no future. We need farm lands to feed us and sustain our economy. This is why, the Coalition Government has been working along the East Coast to protect farm lands, support farmers, and improve farming practices

New Drainage pumps safeguarding farmlands and households Over 114,000 households along the East Coast of Demerara including farmers, are now sleeping easier during the rainy season. This is as a result of the Government expending GY$581,644,662 for the construction and rehabilitation of drainage and irrigation structures at Buxton and Triumph/Vigilance and Lusignan. These facilities have considerably reduced the farm lands and the residents’ exposure to flooding during extreme events. 

Rural Agricultural Infrastructure Development (RAID) programme Unused fertile lands aback of Buxton was opened up for agricultural production. This was made possible under a loan granted to the Government of Guyana by the CARICOM Development Fund (CDF). The project - the Rural Agricultural Infrastructure Development (RAID) programme - funded the clearing of acres of land, construction of secondary drainage and irrigation canals and control structures, rehabilitation of access dams and the establishment of farmlands and pastures. Farmers also benefitted from the distribution of seedling and planting materials. 

First ever amphibious excavator for conservancy The acquisition of this landmark piece of machinery - which costs more than $60M and will be used exclusively for works in the conservancy- is expected to assist in executing works in those hard to reach areas that are at risks of flooding and will bring relief to residents and farmers whose economic activities are usually disrupted by flooding caused by intense rainfall and overtopping of the sea defence. The excavator is capable of working in waterways as deep as sixteen feet and is fully self-propelled. 

EAST COAST CONNECTION - July 2019

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FLOWING TAPS

Approximately 900 residents of Ann’s Grove gained first time access to potable water following upgrade works

Approximately 1000 customers from Triumph North, Beterverwagting North & La Bonne Intention on the East Coast of Demerara received increased level of service as a result of proactive leakage inspection

The re-establishment of the overhead water tank at La Bonne Intention resulted in increased water pressure for residents

A new well was drilled at Sparendaam, resulting in improved water services to residents

More than 1300 residents of Dutch Cab & Dazzell Housing Schemes, Vryheid’s Lust, Golden Grove, Melanie, Victoria, Le Ressouvenir, Lusignan and Ann’s Grove gained access to potable water following the installation of distribution mains

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EAST COAST CONNECTION - July 2019

Better education to build the nation Since taking office in 2015, the Coalition Government has emphasised every child in school policy.

Towards this vision, the government has been working to create the environment, where regardless of the economic situation, Guyanese children can attend school. These are some of the effort enacted on the East Coast Demerara to ensure every child gets to school and stays in school.

David G Bus Children across the East Coast Demerara are using the David G Bus supplied by the Government

-under the President’s 5B programme- to get to and from school, free of cost. 

ICT important for the educational journey The Ministry of Education has established Information Technology (IT) laboratories in all of the state Secondary Schools on the East Coast. the

ministry is well on its way to achieve this feat in the primary schools. 

ICT hubs Students and residents of Plaisance, Betterhope and Melanie Damishana are among those bene-

fitting from an Information and Communications Technology (ICT) Hub equipped with 15 computers. 

New Modern Secondary School The new Good Hope Secondary School on the East Coast Demerara – being constructed at a cost of $857Million - will accommodate 800 students. The school will be furnished with a multipurpose hall, Home Economics building, Science and computer laboratory, audio-visual room and

industrial technology room among other inclusive classrooms and extra-curricular spaces in keeping with the Coalition Government’s goal to eliminate illiteracy, strengthen tolerance and modernise education. 

Elevator for disabled students The Golden Grove Secondary School - refurbished at a cost of $170Million- is now equipped with an elevator for persons with disabilities. The

old building originally accommodated 300 students. The new school is housing three times that number. 

Breakfast in School A breakfast programme that benefitted 657 pupils was successfully piloted in nine East Coast of Demerara schools. 

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Enhancing Life - Boosting Healthcare The Coalition government has already begun to rehabilitate health centres and the hospital on the East Coast. The renovations are in accordance with the health facilities deficiencies that may be hindering residents from having the best quality of healthcare provided

The HPV vaccine was also extended to 16-year-old boys and girls equally on the East Coast at the Nabaclis, Mahaica Enterprise, Buxton and Melanie health centres among others. 

The Dr. CC Nicholson Hospital in Nabacalis is being rehabilitated and the Maternity Unit upgraded in order to facilitate Maternal and Child Health (MCH) services along the East Coast of Demerara corridor. Importantly, this will significantly reduce the current number of women seeking this service at the Georgetown Public Hospital. 

Meanwhile, East Coast residents can now benefit from free ultrasound services being offered at the Buxton and the Enterprise Health Centres and the Dr. CC Nicholson Hospital. 

The Dr. CC Nicholson Hospital in Nabacalis is being rehabilitated and the Maternity Unit upgraded in order to facilitate Maternal and Child Health (MCH) services along the East Coast of Demerara corridor. Importantly, this will significantly reduce the current number of women seeking this service at the Georgetown Public Hospital. 

Three diabetic centres are slated to be established in the communities of Melanie, Plaisance, and Unity, along the East Coast of Demerara. 

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EAST COAST CONNECTION - July 2019

GOVT WILL ABIDE BY CCJ DECISION - PRES. GRANGER

President David Granger said that his government will abide by the Caribbean Court of Justice’s (CCJ) ruling upholding the December 21, 2018 no-confidence motion.

In an address to the nation following the CCJ ruling on Tuesday, June 18, 2019, the President said that it is essential that fair and credible elections are held and that this could not be achieved via the current voters roll.

Full text of the president’s address below: Guyanese, The no-confidence motion in December 2018, and the independent legal processes in the courts that followed it, have been of utmost importance to me and the Government.

We respect the legal process and the decision

of Caribbean Court of Justice as well as the Constitution of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana.

We did not believe that the no-confidence vote was valid and neither did we believe it reflected the will of Parliament or the Guyanese people.

We will however accept, and abide by, the Court’s decision.

It is now clear that the Guyanese people need certainty about the future and a way forward. I want to outline a clear path.

It is essential that we hold fair, free and credible elections. We cannot proceed on the current list of voters. It is outdated and corrupted. It may hold as many as 200,000 incorrect entries.

What’s more, those who have reached the age of 18 years since the last election are not on it.

The Constitution entitles all citizens over the

GECOM WILL DECIDE ELECTION DATE - AG TELLS CCJ

By Alexis Rodney Attorney General (AG) and Minister of Legal Affairs, Basil Williams, SC., on Monday, June 24 reiterated that President David Granger is prepared to set a date for General and Regional Elections once he is duly advised by the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM).

The Head of State is also awaiting word from Leader of the Opposition, Bharrat Jagdeo, on the way forward, following the June 18 ruling of the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ).

The Attorney General was addressing the CCJ Panel, led by President Adrian Saunders, from the Appellate Court in Georgetown.

The CCJ met for the post-judgment hearing on consequential orders on two sets of cases from Guyana for which judgments were delivered Tuesday last.

According to the AG, the president is guided by the elections body on its readiness for the polls.

“The President of Guyana is an Executive President. So, if we look at the question of separation of powers, to propose that someone else gives the date for National Elections will collide unfortunately with that,” the AG told the court.

He said if there is no agreement for the twothirds resolution in the Parliament, then of necessity, the president being given the powers under the Constitution, “should, after consultation with GECOM, dissolve the National Assembly and General and Regional Elections shall be held on a date fixed by the President,”.

The Attorney General reminded that under Guyana’s electoral laws, in order to create a new list of electors and national register of registrants, house-to-house visits must be pursued. He said almost half a billion dollars has already been spent in preparing for House-to- Registration by GECOM. “The list has to be revised by additions and deletions and has to be done by house-to-house visits.”

The Attorney General reported that the Head

of State has already written to the leader of the opposition inviting him to a meeting but is yet to hear from him.

“I can assure you that the president acted forthwith after the Tuesday ruling. He is awaiting the leader of the opposition,” he told the CCJ panel.

age of 18 the right to vote. It is a democratic imperative that house-to-house registration be completed swiftly so we can have an election at the earliest opportunity.

The Chairman of the Guyana Elections Commission, Justice Patterson, has previously informed me that the Commission will be ready to hold elections in November 2019. This will be after the completion of house-to-house registration.

I now await a recommendation for a specific date from GECOM and I will then issue a proclamation.

We will be heading to the polls and there’s going to be a crucial choice for our citizens.

A choice to decide the future of our country and, most importantly, the future with regard to jobs, living standards, and education for our children.

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has recently indicated that Guyana is on the right path in respect to our management of Guyana’s oil resources.

Guyanese will be given the choice to elect a government they trust to continue on this path, to keep Guyana moving forward, to secure a better life for every family with the united APNU+AFC coalition, or risk our future by returning to the past.

Guyana, since my election in 2015, has been moving in the right direction after 23 years of stagnation under successive PPP administrations.

Significant progress has been made. But real change is neither quick nor easy to come by.

There is still a lot more to do.

I will devote all my energies until the forth-

He reiterated that the president and government shall remain in office.

“We are a country that has a border controversy. We have a long porous border… and at any moment, a crisis can occur. We are saying that the government and president shall remain.”

Meanwhile, President Saunders requested written submissions from all parties by Monday, July 1. These, he noted, must be no more than 20 pages in length. He said the court will seek to hand down a decision on the submissions on or before July 12, during which time he encouraged that the Head of State and Opposition Leader to meet.

Image: Ameer Sattaur

coming election to serve our people and our country and deliver good governance.

Guyanese can confidently expect to live in a country that is moving forward; with communities that are safer; in a society that is more cohesive; with better infrastructure, greater access to quality education and an economy that is more resilient - providing better jobs.

We are on the right path.

When the election comes, I urge all our people, of whatever background, to support me and the APNU+AFC coalition to give us the opportunity to secure the best future for Guyana.

I call on all Guyanese to remain calm and I assure you that the Government will abide by the Constitution of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana. 

PRES. GRANGER AND OPPOSITION LEADER TO MEET

By Anara Khan

Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs, Basil Williams SC., speaks to the media outside the Court of Appeal.

President David Granger

President David Granger has acknowledged Opposition Leader, Bharat Jagdeo’s acceptance of an invitation to discuss the appointment of a new Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) Chairman.

On Friday, June 21, Director-General (DG) of the Ministry of the Presidency, Joseph Harmon wrote Opposition Chief Whip, Gail Teixeira acknowledging receipt of her letter dated June 25, 2019.

In his letter, the DG stated that President Granger “iterates his commitment to meet with the Opposition Leader to discuss his important Constitutional requirement.”

He also noted that in the ruling handed down by the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) (Paragraph 26), it specifies that both the Head of State and Leader of the Opposition must meet and hold discussions on “…eligible candidates for the position of Chairman before a list is formally submitted. The aim of these discussions must be to agree to the names of six persons to fit the stated edibility requirements and who are not unacceptable to the president.”

The Director-General further stated that the government has understood this to mean nomi-

nees for the list of six persons will be provided by both the president and the opposition leader This dispatch comes seven days after the Head of State would have invited the opposition leader to meet with him to “discuss the current political situation in Guyana resulting from the decision of the Caribbean Court of Justice made on Tuesday, June 18.”

In a letter dated Thursday, June 20, DG Harmon made the correspondent on behalf of the president. He had said that the letter served to demonstrate President Granger’s commitment to “engagement and dialogue” with the opposition leader in the interest of the development of Guyana.

On Tuesday, June 18, the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) ruled that the December 21, 2018 vote was validly passed and the appointment of the GECOM Chair, Justice (Ret’d) James Patterson was “flawed” and thereby unconstitutional.

Prior to this ruling, the government had indicated that it will respect the decision of the CCJ. Following its ruling, the GECOM Chair demitted office on June 24.

Government has boasted an excellent track record as a first-term government and continues to make strides in this regard. 

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‘TO DISENFRANCHISE ONE IS TO DISENFRANCHISE A THOUSAND’ — FRESH CALLS FOR HOUSE-TO-HOUSE REGISTRATION MADE tion government, councillors, young professionals, students and even senior citizens exercised their freedom of assembly and freedom of speech.

Minister Hastings-Williams told the Depart-

Minister of State, Dawn Hastings-Williams

By Felecia Valenzuela “We need house-to-house registration in order to have credible elections” This was the call made by Minister of State, Dawn Hastings-Williams who joined a protest outside the offices of the Guyana Elections Commission, (GECOM) at Lamaha and Main Streets, Georgetown.

The State Minister along with ministers, members of parliament, representatives of the coali-

Chairperson of the AFC Women’s Arm, Tamara Khan ment of Public Information (DPI) that credible house-to-house registration was necessary. “The current list is expired, it is not credible enough, it does not include our young people who have

attained the age of 18 to exercise their franchise.”

Her cabinet college, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Dr. Karen Cummings, also shared similar sentiments. “We have to ensure that we do not disenfranchise anyone. In fact, we want our list to be sanitized, there are a lot of dead people on that list,” she stated.”

Minister Cummings underscored that the Coalition was “ready and prepared for elections.”

Also lending her support was newly elected Chairperson of the Alliance For Change (AFC) Women’s Arm, Tamara Khan. “There are over ten thousand people who will not be able to vote in the upcoming elections if we do not have houseto-house registration,” Khan emphatically stated.

Of the current Guyana Elections Commission, (GECOM), list, Khan noted that some 200,000 plus entries were reported incorrect, hence a new list was needed urgently. “In order for us to have fair elections, we need a new list, that is ultimately what is important, we cannot disenfranchise our youth,” she declared.

DPI also spoke with AFC Member, Michael

AFC Member, Michael Leonard.

Leonard who was very vocal in his call for houseto-house registration. “No one should be excluded from the voters’ list, to disenfranchise one is to disenfranchise a thousand,” he stated.

Leonard said his party was hitting the streets in support of the proclamation made by the His Excellency, President David Granger, that fresh house-to-house registration was needed before the next regional and general elections.

Image: Marceano Narine

THE COOL CAT AND THE LOUSY LOT “ONE Cool Cat” – that is how the versatile Sammy Davis Jr was described in a recent documentary of his live shows and movie appearances. I recall, during the prime of their careers, the “master-blaster” Viv Richards and Guyana’s own cricket hero, Clive Lloyd, were celebrated as super cool cats.

In my book, the iconic cool cat was Bob Marley who sang: “…That until the basic human rights Are equally guaranteed to all, Without regard to race – Dis a war.”

I have been singing and dancing to this tune since the mid-1970s, proclaiming then with comrade Gail and many others in the PPP’s ranks, “war in the east, war in the west, war up north, war down south…”

I remember Brother Bob, when one of the coolest cats in our Coalition Cabinet, Winston Da Costa Jordan, told a spontaneous mini-rally at the end of the recent Bartica outreach, that our people must be on the ready to picket for house-to-house registration of voters.

NO INCITEMENT “No registration, no election”, the Finance Minister said, as he added, “from today, war break” as he insisted on a clean voters list since this government is committed to free, fair and “proppa elections”. There was loud and sustained applause.

As he said that, I could hear Brother Bob mesmerising my ears with his poetic words, “dis a war…”

There was no agitation, no incitement, no calls for uprising by and in what Minister Jordan said.

He was merely underlining how critical is a clean voters list for the holding of credible elections.

At that meeting, remembering the lyrics of Roberta Flack, “killing me softly with his song,” I decided to answer the lousy lot, who have been warring with our government, with a song. They were vulgarly celebrating in a certain propaganda broadsheet that I have been “shafted” and given “larwah,” the signature cuss-word of the obscene publishers who have been the biggest beneficia-

ries of the corrupt policy of cronyism under the Jagdeo regimes.

So, I belted out the Barbadian gospel song “Never get weary yet,” which I first heard during 1976 in St. Vincent during the election campaign there. I joined the chorus in Kingstown market square as I had thrown my support for the party of the aged political warrior, Ebenezer Joshua.

FAKE NEWS The lousy lot are in full cuss-down mode. Yesterday, they reported wild, baseless and defamatory statements that the President of the Republic is lying when he referred to the voters list being bloated, and that it excludes names of young voters. The lousy lot, it is believed, are also behind fake news being circulated on social media that the U.S. Government would invade Guyana to force early elections.

But we should not allow that lousy lot to ruffle us. As for me, I am determined to be around, as I said at the meeting, to remind them that if they want to keep our young people off the voters list, they are asking for trouble in this country.

I mean every word that I have said. That was no threat. That was a fundamental political statement that defends the constitutional right of all persons, 18 years and above, to be on the voters list and to play their part in electing their government.

But opposition elements are fearful of their own dirty design to lock out young people from the electoral process. They are afraid of young, new voters who cannot be manipulated to enlist in racist agendas. Young people are liberal and are more prone to integrate than to be victims of the practices of ethnic preferences that have polarised our politics.

PEACEFUL PROTESTS I am elated that young people, throughout Guyana, have responded yesterday with peaceful public protests at offices of the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) to demand fresh houseto-house registration of electors, especially those persons who have turned 18 since the last election in 2015.

My call was for registration of ALL persons who qualify to vote, not just coalition supporters.

They include prospective supporters of the PPP and other parties.

The response of the Guyanese people to the call for new voter registration fully accords with the promise made by President Granger that he is prepared to do his part to ensure credible elections. Long before the ruling by the Caribbean Court of Justice, His Excellency was quoted in the international edition of the Guyana Chronicle (March 16, 2019), as saying, “I rely on the Commission’s readiness, the provision of funds and the expansion of time to conduct credible elections by the National Assembly.”

At the time, President Granger had met with Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo who, shortly afterwards, broke his words that he would cooperate, but instead declared “war” against the government when he called on his supporters to ‘chase out’ the President and his ministers from office. That was an appeal for rebellion, for treason.

PARTNERSHIP At that time he was calling on the President to hold new elections, knowing that the laws do NOT allow this to happen. I pointed out then, in My Turn:“Jagdeo knows that the Constitution entrusts GECOM, not the President, with the power of holding elections, and that a key component of credible electors is a new voters list. The present list is padded with phantom names. At the same time, it excludes the names of youths who have

now attained the age of 18 and could vote in any upcoming elections. His inexplicable obsession with disenfranchising young people makes his demand for early elections suspicious.”

While serving as President back in 2006, Jagdeo is on record as saying: “The law says that GECOM shall define the form of verification and will decide on what form it will take. Not the PPP, not the PNC, not any party – GECOM. That’s a constitutional body — independent, just like the courts.”

The position of the Guyana Government is that it would work with GECOM as well as our allies, to ensure clean elections. The assurance of partnership for this goal was conveyed by newly appointed U.S. Ambassador to Guyana Sarah-Ann Lynch, at her accreditation ceremony, when she declared: “During our long relationship with Guyana we have witnessed significant progress. We have seen a strengthening of the democratic process and political institutions, along with broader political participation and citizen representation…

Moving forward, we will continue to encourage genuinely free and fair elections; freedom of speech and assembly; multi-party representation and a constitutional judiciary process.”

This is a critical time. It requires our leaders and our media to be vigilant and responsible. We should all be cool cats, calmly watching the dark holes from which the next attacks on our democracy would emerge. 

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E D I T O R I A L

HOUSETO-HOUSE

REGISTRATION: a legitimate expectation of the people The holding of national elections that are free and fair is recognised as the fullest expression of a country’s democracy since it is a constitutional exercise that gives every eligible citizen the opportunity to participate in the right to choose the government of their choice.

Every national election is expected to be conducted in a manner that is above board, as well as transparent. This means that the results, when declared, must be accepted as credible, and without doubt or controversy. It must also be able to withstand scrutiny from all quarters.

In Guyana, where national and regional elections are constitutionally held every five years, it is well known that every such constitutional exercise is preceded by a process of house-to-house registration, which allows for a sanitised/clean voters’ list; meaning a list of voters who are registered as being alive and present in Guyana at the time of this procedure. It also allows for the registration of those young voters who become eligible to take participate in the national electoral process.

It is this process that the Bharat Jagdeo–led Peoples Progressive Party/Civic, is objecting to, for reasons which can only be described as politically expedient; dishonest; both anti-national and anti-democratic, and which goes against the fact of the constitutional right of the citizen to be properly registered for what is the most important constitutional exercise.

It must be noted that there has never been an objection, from the now opposition PPP/C when it had the reins of government, or from any of the individual-member political parties of the current coalition, before they collectively became the government in 2015; prior to now, to the legal fact of house to house registration being conducted for the purpose of a national election, as it is in accordance with the National Registration Act, and has been done so many times before. In fact, the following years particularly -1992, 1997, 2001, 2006, and 2011 - were election years when the PPP/C were known to demand and ensure that there was house-to-house registration. The government at that time would have been correct, as it was a legitimate requirement for such to take place before every election, for the issuing of a proper voters’ list; as well as being a legitimate expectation of the people.

It would be an act of the gravest dereliction

of constitutional and national duty, if a government makes a proclamation for national elections, without ensuring that the national electoral body, in Guyana’s case, the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) has not prepared a list which is accurate and a true reflection of the statistical total of eligible voters. An important reminder - it is this constitutional body which is solely responsible for this crucial task, and which on completion must advise the government on a date for an election. It is a constitutional fact, which Bharat Jagdeo, when as president, some time ago, reminded the nation when he had announced a date for national and regional elections.

And so it is fair that we to ask, why now is this opposition party is objecting to a necessary exercise, which they had always supported and ensured, done when it had been the government?

Is it fair, for reasons which are best known to this now opposition party to object to an absolutely necessary process which had always been done?

There can be no other reason, except for sinister purposes, for such devious obstruction.

Be reminded that not to have house-to-house registration, amounts to having a voters list that is bloated and corrupted; one which is not accurate because it does not reflect the true number of eligible voters; because it continues to have the names of citizens who should not be listed, because they have either migrated or are deceased. Also, such a list, which must be totally sanitized, must also contain the names of citizens who would have become eligible for voter participation, since the last election. It is this category which stands to be threatened by PPP/C objections which have no merit. This will mean, the denial of the human rights of an important category that number in the thousands, young people, who must enjoy the right of choice of government, like any other age group in this country.

It is criminal for any political party, albeit the opposition, to attempt to hinder this key electoral, exercise of house-to-house registration.

It amounts to desperation in efforts to stymie the democratic process, while at the same time, frustrating the will of the people. It is the most glaring example of PPP/C HYPOCRISY. Houseto-House registration lays the solid foundation for national elections which are transparent and credible and acceptable to all Guyanese. 

Editorial Director

Editor-in-Chief

Imran Khan

Ernestine Leonard

Contributing Writers Synieka Thorne, Felecia Valenzuela, Anara Khan, Alexis Rodney, Isaiah Braithwaite, Delicia Haynes, Neola Damon, Ayana George, Natasha Smith, Nateshia Isaacs, Nikosi Bruce, Shaquille Bourne, Alleya Hamilton and Britney Roberts.

Photography: Keno George, Jules Gibson, Kawise Wishart, Tejpaul Bridgemohan, Kennyann Bacchus, Anil Seelall, Leon Leung, Karime Peters, Ackeem Thomas, Giovanni Gajie, Gajuan Jordan, Marceano Narine, Mohendra Raj and Ameer Sattaur.

Layout and Design: Xcess Interactive

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Public Information Homestretch Avenue, DurbanPark, Georgetown.

Tele:225-4255,226-6715, 226-8849 Fax: 226-6005 Email: dpi@dpi.gov.gy or www.dpi.gov.gy

@dpiguyana

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dpi@dpi.gov.gy

Meet our team

Neola Damon Communications Officer

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EAST COAST CONNECTION - July 2019

YOUTHS CALL FOR HOUSE-TO-HOUSE REGISTRATION

By Nateshia Isaacs For seventeen-year-old Okive Lewis, voting in the next election is critical.

Lewis who is turning 18 soon stressed that he must be allowed to become registered and cast his ballot whenever the next elections are called.

Youths across Guyana have been showing tremendous support towards the process of houseto-house registration being conducted to allow for all eligible persons to be placed on the voters list so they can exercise their constitutional right.

“It would definitely be a tragedy [if youths are not allowed to become registered]. Why? Because almost every election has been touted

“We have seen over 2011, 2015, how young people have impacted what is happening in this country so for you to disenfranchise such a large population then you’re heading for trouble.” – Shanieka Haynes. to them, said Brittany Eversley replied: “A free and fair election would mean that we have our registration done. It’s too many youths who are not registered, who don’t have ID cards and will be excluded from the voters’ list,” said Brittany Eversley.

“In our context right now, a fair election would mean obviously a list that is not expired, one that represents and shows persons who are actually living here, the persons who are eligible, the persons who are not dead on a list,” Shanieka Haynes explained.

Denory Tudor, Georgetown resident

Davia Persaud, 22, Citizen

Brittany Eversley, Citizen to be in the name of our youths, in the name of Guyana’s future and in an election for the future, for your young people, to exclude [those] young people would definitely be a travesty and something that we cannot allow,” another young youth, Kenny Valladares noted.

Westside Diary spoke to a few persons some of whom were protesting outside of the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) to have their voices heard. The youths who hail from all parts of Guyana have maintained that credible registration is the only route to ensuring a free and fair electoral process.

“Well I will soon be turning 18 and I want to vote!” Lewis remarked.

According to them, it is pivotal to exercise their democratic and constitutional rights and to be part of the decision-making process.

Brittany Eversley related her plight to Westside Diray. “I have friends, persons like myself

who are not registered. They say youths are the future of the country, but they are not giving us a free and fair election. If they are not going through registration, then how are [we] going to vote? How are [we] going to be the future if [we] didn’t have a say,” Eversley explained.

Ayodele Roach, a 19-year-old Georgetown resident said that a free and fair election is a must.

“Elections in any country should be free and fair. Especially with Guyana now heading into the oil and gas industry. I don’t think we would want to hold an election without a credible list,” Roach highlighted.

“I believe that young people must have a say in what they want their government to do,” said Shanice Richards as she protested outside of the GECOM Office.

Richards along with dozens of other young persons engaged in a protest mounting social pressure on GECOM to ‘do what is right.’ Ac-

Shanieka Haynes articulated that “all those persons who are talking about following the constitution, following the rule of law decisions, these things have to be taken into consideration, because our constitution itself says that when a list is expired you need to have a new one so, therefore, house-to-house registration is a necessity.”

24-year-old Omanelle Boyce, remarked, “they

Shanieka Haynes, Georgetown resident Shanice Richards also expressed her view saying “If we are going to say fair and free elections then it means that we need to give our youths that chance to exercise their right as a citizen to vote, especially when they reach the age of 18.”

Rondel Holder, 23, said that if young people are not included in the process Guyana will experience another brain drain. According to him, if such a large percentage of persons are disenfranchised, “youths will not show up to the polls in the future because by marginalizing them a culture of lethargy surrounding voting will be created.”

The young persons also spoke on the matter of first-time eligible voters not being allowed to vote

Okive Lewis, 17, Sophia resident

Ayodele Roach, 19, Georgetown resident

because they are excluded from the list.

“Well that would be against the constitution if thousands of persons are blocked from voting,” Ayodele Roach added. “I would definitely 100 percent support a new registration list to ensure that credible and fair and free elections are held.”

cording to those young people, their voice matters, their opinions matter; their votes matter.

“As a young person, I also want to dictate what happens in government because eventually, that will affect me as a young person. Those youth deserve that chance to vote,” Richards added.

“I don’t think they should carry on an election without a new list not allowing young people to vote,” Okive Lewis reiterated.

Asked what a fair electoral process meant

Shanice Richards, Citizen

Rondel Holder, 24, Citizen

would continually say that the youths are the future and if you’re saying that the youth are the future and you’re not giving the youths the opportunity to vote then you are contradicting yourself.”

Following the December 21 Vote and the recent CCJ ruling pressure has mounted for elections to be called. However, the life of the last voters’ list expired April 30, 2019, and the commencement of house to house registration has been on the cards.

It is the view of President David Granger that a credible list must be produced before an election is held to ensure that the provisions and rights enshrined in the constitution are upheld allowing all eligible persons to vote.

Additionally, the main opposition party, PPP\C has called for the expired voters’ list to be used. GECOM has maintained that the expired list is heavily bloated with over 200,000 names of permanent migrants, dead persons and several duplicate persons. 