the final voters list is expected to have
about 661, 000 voters even though the
national schools population of students
under the voting age of 18, is listed at
around 250,000. The elections commission
admits the scroll is very bloated but
points to contradictory court rulings
regarding rules about who can and cannot
be removed from the national register.
Experts say the math simply does
not add up.
Meanwhile, in neighboring Suriname,
which also found commercial oil and
gas deposits offshore for the first time,
will likely be next. Locals there go to
the polls in the Dutch-speaking republic
on May 25 and it could be a tough
fight between the mixed-race governing
National Democratic Party (NDP) of
former military strongman, now twoterm
elected President Desi Bouterse, 74.
Bouterse was last month sentenced to 20
years in prison for mass murders committed
during military rule in 1982 but
he has since appealed the sentence but
is not barred from seeking a third five
year term. His strongest rival appears to
come from the Hindustani VHP party of
former police chief and justice minister
Chan Santokhi.
Across the border Corentyne River,
Caribbean L 20 ife, Jan. 31-Feb. 6, 2020
Guyanese President, David Granger, a
retired army general, is facing a formidable
challenge from the Indo-dominated
People’s Progressive Party (PPP). His
multi-racial coalition is seeking a second
five-year term and has promised
an unprecedented level of development
now that Guyana has become and oil
producer and expects billions in annual
revenues over the period.
To the north in Trinidad, the administration
of Prime Minister, Keith Rowley,
is also facing a formidable challenge
from the Indo-dominated United
National Congress (UNC) of opposition
leader and former Prime Minister Kamla
Persad-Bissessar. Race and the economic
future of Trinidad with its declining
daily oil production are likely to be key
campaign issues, but Rowley says his
Afro-supported People’s National Movement
(PNM) is confident of a consecutive
term given the runaway corruption
of the UNC during its previous terms in
officers. He is confident voters will not
forget. Trinidadians last voted in early
September of 2015.
The others have to do with similar
tight races in Belize, St. Kitts and Nevis
and St. Vincent and the Grenadines. The
latter two are located in the nine-nation
Organization of Eastern Caribbean
States (OECS), a subgrouping of the
15-nation CARICOM bloc of nations.
In tourism dependent St. Kitts and
Nevis, Prime Minister, Timothy Harris’
People’s Labor Party (PLP) is staking
faith in voters about the government’s
record in reducing runaway corruption
and money laundering, which had
plagued the 20-year period under previous
Prime Minister Denzil Douglas.
Harris is expected to win a second term
as Douglas remains stained with corruption
issues. Polling done by the Barbados
based Cadres Group, show that Harris
is on course for a second term.
As for nearby St. Vincent and the
Grenadines group of sister isles, Prime
Minister, Ralph Gonsalves will again
try to win a fifth term after ruling the
archipelago for the last two terms with a
wafer thin one-seat majority.
Persistent and credible allegations of
massive voter rigging by the opposition
New Democratic Party (NDP) have
plagued recent elections in the country
but the question is whether voters
are tired enough of Gonsalves, 73, and
would vote to end his era at the helm of
government.
The seventh race concerns the
Dominican Republic, which has not
been enjoying close relations with CARICOM
because of the way it has been
treating Black Haitians who cross from
neighboring Haiti or even those born
in the DR. Recent laws passed by parliament
have banned those native to the
DR from obtaining citizenship, an issue
which has vexed CARICOM and has led
to a cooling of relation.
Continued from Page 1
Guyana’s President David A. Granger. Associated Press / Kevin Hagen
Election fever
in CARICOM
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