The local government election
Editorial
Stabroek News
December 22, 2006
The 2006 national and regional elections, compared with its predecessors, was peaceful and a success. The issue of the quality of the voters' list, however, remained contentious as did the question of whether a voter had to be resident to be entitled to vote.
In his report to the Guyana government Ambassador Albert Ramdin, the Organisation of American States (OAS) Assistant Secretary General and head of the OAS electoral observer mission, while commending Guyana for the success demonstrated in the elections, as other groups had done before, raised the question of whether the `Carter model' of the Elections Commission, which had worked as a transitional mechanism, should be continued or whether the time had come for a well-equipped, independent, non-partisan electoral institution that can, as he put it, provide an election that will be widely and readily accepted. That model of a commission manned by professionals with no overt political commitment is, of course, the norm in other democratic countries and the current model can only be explained by our tortured electoral history and the need for a compromise in the transition to democracy. But there is considerable support for the view that it has outlived its usefulness, breeds disputes and should be replaced. Yet neither of the two main parties has shown an inclination to replace the current model, with which they appear to be comfortable, despite its obvious deficiencies and it seems it will continue to prevail.
When will the local government election be held? There is a bill before the national assembly to delay the deadline for the already long overdue election for another year. Many of the outstanding issues have been ironed out in the committee that had been set up to deal with the question of local government elections in which then Minister Collymore and then parliamentarian Vincent Alexander had played the key roles for their parties. Some issues have been resolved but two remain outstanding, the election system (the PNCR favour more of a constituency system than proportional representation), and the mechanism for the transfer of funds from the central government to local government bodies. Subject to the resolution of these two issues the local government election could in principle be held next year provided the elections commission, which is at present not fully constituted, can function and also provided that it is agreed to proceed on the basis of the existing voters list, updated for new registrations and deaths. It has been estimated that a new house to house registration exercise would cost about $1.6 billion and it would, of course, take some time. President Jagdeo recently said he would like to see the local government election held by August. That assumes agreement on the use of the current list. Given the two unresolved issues and the coming of Mashramani in February and the World Cup Cricket starting in March it would be a pleasant surprise if the election could be held before the end of the year. It must also be noted that due to the resignation of Mr Haslyn Parris the elections commission is not fully constituted, though the PNCR in consultation with the other opposition parties can nominate a replacement, and there is a quorum even without him.
The issue of the need for a new house-to-house registration will have to be dealt with at some time even if it is agreed not to tackle it for the local government election. What would be the right time to carry out such an exercise, three years before the next national and regional elections due in 2011? Does the government agree that such an exercise is essential or does it believe the existing list can gradually be purged and rectified?
The issue of the need for voters to be resident also remains unsettled. Conflicting legal opinions have been given and there has not yet been a decision by a court though there is a pending action. If there was agreement between the parties, of course, the matter could be settled by amending legislation.
This is a permanent elections commission and though it may, perhaps justifiably, feel some satisfaction at the way the last elections were concluded important issues remain unsettled and there is work to be done. It may be desirable for the Chairman, and the commission, to take some public notice of these issues and to give some clear idea of the options that lie ahead, even though ultimately the decisions will be made by the political parties under the current unsatisfactory model. We have learnt only too well in the past that there has been a tendency to let things slide and to waste precious time, until towards the end impossible time schedules have to be kept. It has been estimated that the election will cost $1.2 billion. After the festive season has passed it would be encouraging to hear something from the chairman.