US Congress leaders assure free, fair elections in Guyana
By Tangerine Clarke
U. S. Congress leaders Yvette
D. Clarke and Gregory Meeks,
during a comprehensive briefing
on Feb. 9 assured Guyanese
in Brooklyn that their trip to
Guyana was successful, and all
concerned in the South American
country agreed that the
March 2 general and regional
elections would be free, fair and
without violence.
The politicians told diasporans
at Goshen Temple SDA on
Church Avenue, that they met
with President David Granger,
Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo,
civil society, the United
States Peace Corps, the Guyana
Elections Commission,
(GECOM), petroleum companies,
the Guyana Chamber
of Commerce, and the Carter
Center, in one day, and emphasized
that the open, honest dialogue
with President Granger,
assured that the constitution
was adhere to, after the “No
Confidence” motion.
Clarke, who represents the
9th Congressional District in
Brooklyn with a large Guyanese
population, said President
Granger does not believe
there would be any violence,
and assured the bad days
before Independence would not
return.
She dissuaded nationals
from sharing age-old circumstances
Caribbean Life, F 22 ebruary 14-20, 2020
with the new generation
of Guyanese and instead
share skills that would prepare
citizens for Guyana’s development.
“One million barrels of
oil were shipped to Houston,
Texas, Guyana is now an oilproducing
nation, this is where
you can can be influential by
engaging NGOs, to educate citizens
on how not to sell themselves
short. Working with civil
society, to create entrepreneurial
opportunity, to improve
infrastructure. Nation building
should be a greater cause for
Guyanese,” she insisted.
While comparing Guyana’s
oil wealth to that of Abu Dhabi,
she called on expatriates to find
ways for peaceful co-existence
after elections.
Meeks who represents the
5th Congressional District in
Queens with many Guyanese,
and served 21 years in Congress,
stressed, “President
Granger did everything according
to the constitution, and
didn’t break any laws. All concerned,
including the Carter
Center confirmed such.”
He understands that the
delay of elections was due to
GECOM that could not prepare
for elections within the
90-day deadline, noting the
body assured it would be ready
for the March 2 elections.
Meeks said that Chair of
GECOM, Justice Claudette
Singh predicted that the party
that looses, would ask for a
recount, and would have such,
without hampering the smooth
transition of power, within
three-days.
He also dismissed claims
that the U.S. government
accused the APNU+AFC Coalition
of breaching the constitution,
but when pressed, said he
was speaking only from when
he was on the ground in Guyana,
and assured that the U.S.,
EU, and OAS, are playing their
part to ensure free and fair
elections.
Meeks said he drafted a letter
addressed to the USAID, to
encourage the body to grasp
the golden opportunity in Guyana
by sharing technical skills
to help Guyanese benefit from
the country’s development.
He praised Clarke as a tremendous
force in Washington
DC, and said, going to Guyana
was unique, since she is an
expert on the committee of
commerce and energy, adding
that oil in Guyana could be a
blessing or a course, noting
elections are important to the
government and people, so everyone
benefits.
Elected offi cials, from left, Congressman Gregory Meeks, Dr. Una Clarke, Congresswoman
Yvette D. Clarke, Senator Roxanne Persaud, Consul General Barbara Atherly, Shirley Paul,
Chinua Duke, and James Richmond, after a community briefi ng on a congressional visit to
Guyana at the Goshen Temple SDA Church Hall, Brooklyn. Photo by Tangerine Clarke
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