Dear Editor,
“THE law, as I have been saying, is the greatest invention of man, and the law says, that fraud is fraud. A fraud, once committed, makes everything a nullity; everything that is tainted by fraud is void, ab inito, meaning from the inception.”
Words beautifully put and passionately articulated by the man whose popularity in the PPP rivals its Maximum Leader, Bharrat Jagdeo.
Those words, quoted verbatim, and spoken by the former Attorney-General, Mr. Anil Nandlall and televised for the world to see and hear, must not only be taken with the absolute seriousness it requires, because, in law, he is absolutely correct. But they must also be taken into context, in light of the daily happenings being unfolded.
It must be noted that, in law, fraud is defined as “the intentional deception” to secure “unfair” or unlawful gain, or to “deprive” a victim of a legal right.
Mr. Editor, it is significant to recognise that this spoken truth by Nandlall, that some would say is seldom, was presented before the recount, and was premised on an “allegation” of an unlawful act committed by Mingo, who made a legal declaration of District Four’s results, and, I daresay, it still is.
Contrary to Nandlall’s then claim, as I had previously mentioned, the credibility of the March 2, 2020 elections, coupled with the insurmountable evidence the Coalition has provided and continues to provide the Guyana Elections Commission, brings to the forefront the real legitimacy of the former Attorney-General’s position of fraud that was systematically done in all regions of the March 2, 2020 elections. The proof is in the evidence that was, and is being provided regularly by the Coalition.
Mr. Editor, what will GECOM do? Will they bow to international pressure being applied by daily visits of their local representatives to the GECOM Chair at the ACCC, where the national recount is ongoing? Or will they demonstrate the testicular fortitude of their better understanding and knowledge of Guyana’s political process and its history than any outsider could understand, to guide this “Guyanese” process?
Mr. Editor, These are some of the fundamental questions that GECOM has to, and must answer, not only for its own redemption as a credible independent body, but to clarify a direction for the population and the future of Guyana.
Again I ask, will GECOM put the Guyanese interest above international interest? Will they give validity to a process where the evidence implies that the credibility of the process was significantly compromised?
Mr. Editor, no one will accept that GECOM’s task will be an easy one, given the very rugged road that led to this present destination. Their prudent decisions must be guided by evidence beyond a numerical count that is in question.
With the alarming amount of unquestionable, indisputable and incontestable evidence of a definitely compromised electoral process, where fraud to deprive the people’s will was done, the question, which remains, what will be done, cannot go unanswered.
All eyes are apparently on the GECOM’s chairman, a woman who seems to be the “target” for uninvited guests, from scores of PPP/C representatives on a daily basis, for what, only GOD knows, as well as those from the international/diplomatic community who are “not interfering” in our sovereign democratic electoral process for self-determination, as they want us to believe.
Additionally, Mr. Editor, the CARICOM team is also experiencing a new brand of Guyanese hospitality, which they seem to have recognised but continue to conduct their affairs in a very professional manner.
I take refuge in knowing that the learned Justice and the CARICOM team will be guided by the evidence presented and the law.
The Chairman has demonstrated she is her own woman; a strong woman, who will not be bullied by anyone, at home or abroad.
The Chairman and her team have a Herculean task to arrive at the country’s most important decision.
Guyana’s interest is paramount, and the lives of all Guyanese matter; credible elections matter.
As stated in my embryonic remarks, referencing the profound words uttered by the former Attorney-General, “The law, as I have been saying, is the greatest invention of Man, and the law says that fraud is fraud. A fraud, once committed, makes everything a nullity; everything that is tainted by fraud is void, ab inito, meaning from the inception.”
Mr. Editor, it would be remiss of me not to state, emphatically, that the WILL of the Guyanese people must not be determined by a fraudulent process that lacks credibility, and, moreover, it must never ever be as a result of outside influences.
The world has seen the outcomes of such interferences, and the travesty that beholds such societies because of such. Hence, the Mullen’s report has indicated that the Russians interfered in the American 2015 elections, and the world is witness to the violations of the laws by police, the constant abuse of the media, blatant lies and countless abuse and deaths of many minority groups: Black Americans, the Latino community, etc. The George Floyd Movement speaks volumes. There were also interferences in Bolivia’s election and the elections of several other Latin and Central American countries, as well as the electoral process of parts of African and South African countries, and the experiences are grave and damning.
Mr. Editor, the outcome of these elections must be guided by the law, and the CARICOM team, which is the “only interlocutory authority” in this process, must be allowed to do its work to its conclusion.
We will only respect the views of our respected CARICOM body, and that of GECOM.
All others who present a distasteful audacity to speak and give independent and joint statements before CARICOM and GECOM are allowed to complete their work, must be responsible in understanding that their utterances can cause more harm than good to our fragile State.
Yours respectfully,
Jermaine Figueira
Source: https://issuu.com/guyanachroniclee-paper/docs/guyana_chronicle_e-paper_06-07-2020