Letter to the Editor – April 8, 2020
The Editor
Stabroek News
April 8, 2020
Dear Sir,
I have just read Chief Elections Officer Mr. Lowenfield’s proposal for the recount of the ballots cast in the March 2 elections. This proposal, which suggests 156 days, or approximately five long and nerve-racking months, to recount about 2,300 ballot boxes, is simply unbelievable, mind-boggling, and insulting.
This is especially troubling at a time when many citizens, because of COVID-19, may be without jobs, struggling to provide for their families, and facing an uncertain future. At a time like this, with no fully functioning government and no Parliament in place to make timely interventions for the benefit of the population, such a delay is wholly unacceptable.
In today’s world, particularly in the business community, we are forced to adapt and innovate quickly in order to survive. It is therefore difficult to understand how such an excessively long timeline could even be considered reasonable.
For the distressing and unfortunate state of affairs in our country today, I place the blame squarely at the feet of the Chairperson, Justice Claudette Singh. In my view, she has either abdicated her responsibilities or failed to exercise the authority of her office. From the moment Mr. Mingo presented his imaginary numbers, she should have intervened decisively.
I recall that Dr. Steve Surujbally, the former Chairman, often held multiple press conferences in a single day, and there was never any doubt as to who was in charge of the Commission. Today, however, it appears that Mr. Lowenfield and GECOM’s public relations officer are the public faces of the Commission, while the Chairperson remains largely absent from public view. Since March 2, there has been, to my knowledge, only one press conference held by the Chairperson. In light of all the turmoil at GECOM since March 3, such silence amounts to an abdication of statutory responsibility.
Madam Chairperson, if you are reading this, I urge you to use your authority as Chairperson of GECOM and, together with the Commission, bring sanity back to this country. I strongly suggest that the Auditor General be engaged, along with a team of auditors, to begin the recount process immediately. CARICOM can send whatever personnel it is able to provide, and the entire process should be livestreamed for transparency.
Please do something. Make the necessary decisions and let us proceed with the recount. We must stop being the laughingstock of the world. You are on trial before the eyes of the international community.
Yours truly,
Raffik
President, Central Corentyne Chamber of Commerce