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Elections in Guyana boil down to basically a ‘race’ between Afro-Guyanese and Indo-Guyanese with all the other unpleasantries that revolve around such races. The two main parties are always at the forefront and greatly overshadow the little minions that ‘want to try a thing’ and maybe win a seat in Parliament. We have the mainly Afro-Guyanese supported APNU+AFC formerly PNC which claims the colour green as its party colour and we have the mainly Indo-Guyanese supported PPP/C formerly PPP which is draped in red. Both parties have been accused of gross corruption and nepotism among other serious allegations but in Guyana the accusations aren’t important as long as ‘we race in powwa’.
Video from News Source Guyana
Elections in Guyana are messy, nasty affairs that showcase one of the worst traits in humans, racism. The Elections concluded since the 2nd March and to date (30th May) a winner has not been declared. We have witnessed tragic comedies since then. The bare-faced juvenile tactics used by corrupt elections officials to retain power for their power obsessed politicians are ridiculous. We had fake stories by ‘elite politicians’ of Russian hackers capable of controlling the minds of voters and directing them to vote for the opposition. After that died down we were told of dead people voting. The excuses to hold on to power and disregard the will of the people are mindboggling. Yet people remain passive and view these politicians as Gods.
A few days after the 2nd March General and Regional Elections I went to work with a dress that had a red upper part and I got the most embarrassed stares. The kind of stares where someone feels you made a faux pas but is too embarrassed to say anything to you. Well two brave colleagues both made statements which were quite eye-opening and caused me to engage the defense mechanism automatically.
Both pointed out that wearing red was a bad choice since it ‘showcased’ my political affiliation; it was the usual perception thing and what people would think. It never crossed my mind that politicians ‘own’ particular colours. Actually, red is my favourite colour and I have a lot of red outfits.
I told both of them that when I dressed that morning politics was not on my mind, in fact I didn’t even vote! When I said that it was like admitting to being a dog killer. They stared and then the words flowed out.
Both of them have college degrees yet the words sounded like they were not thought out. The first said, ‘So you living in Guyana free?’ I was stunned and had to remind him that the resources of the country belong to everyone and not just a few politicians regardless of whether one chooses to vote or not. Not voting does not take away my rights as a citizen of the country. If I feel that the parties are all the same and there is nothing worthy to vote for then I reserve the right not to vote.
At the end of my little speech I felt like I was babbling to myself.
The second one said that I could be jailed for not voting. Really! At every election thousands choose not to vote, even at the UN countries abstain from voting. Has anyone ever been arrested and charged for not voting?
Most people I have encountered are sheep-like, they do as they are told without questioning anything or wondering about the why and above all they seek to impose their ‘right way’ on others. I worked as a polling day staff at four General Elections and I did my job to the best of my abilities. However, I personally did not vote at any and each time the people who worked with me ‘encouraged’ me to vote. I found myself in the position of having to explain and defend my choice although I knew they had no right to insist and I had no obligation to offer an explanation but I did it regardless …and each time felt angry with myself afterwards.
Due to my own experiences and battles with politicians and institutions that claim to function for the people yet look out for their own self-interest and treat citizens without affluence and influence like lowly scum I have become disenchanted and apathetic to the political process and by extension elections in Guyana.
