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Topic Discussion II
Building Public Trust
Elections & Legislatures
Room 1
(14 of 21 pages)
Chair: I do have a long list and I want to get through it, I also as we
get closer to the conclusion, I want to begin to turn it a little bit, and I ask you to think about this as we
go along. We have talked very much about legalistic solutions; we have talked about referring to courts and the
law. That has particularly been focused on elections, but we also need to find political solutions to some of the
problems particularly in terms of credibility and as it effects the legislature and to some extent the media. So,
as we continue through the list and continue the discussion, think about that a little bit just in terms of shifting
the focus a bit as we come to these challenges. As politicians we know we can't always rely on the courts and neither
should we.
Speaker: Thank you. In the much quoted Gettysburg Address a famous leader of the United States of America
in defining democracy spoke of government of the people by the people and f the people. He further expressed the
hope shared by many present here that today's democracy shall never perish from this earth. Trusting that I may
not be accused of being presumptuous, I will argue that from President Lincoln's no doubt had this in his mind
is that those who must comprise the government must be elected from amongst the people of the country. By so doing
those elected to form a government will share the hopes, aspirations and needs and even the dreams of those who
elect them to office.
Extending the concept it was no doubt that those elected to office must pursue policies that will give effect to
e whole aspiration and needs of those who elect them for office. Unfortunately the concept to which I refer in
the context of today's complex world, fashioned by imperfect man is nothing more than a mere ideal in many respects.
This is even more so in the emerging democracies, which is the subject matter of this forum.
We must not overlook that emerging democracies represented at this summit are coming out of a colonial past. For
some it is a pass characterized by the transshipment of peoples of varying religion, and culture into an unfamiliar
and unknown environment for the sole purpose of creating wealth for the colonial powers of the day.
In the process of profiteering no concern was given to the hopes, aspirations, needs and dreams of those utilized
in the process of creating wealth for the colonial. There was the obvious belief that those who live would possess
no hopes, aspirations, needs etc. Indeed there were chattels the moveable profiting of the slaves with no rights.
That which should follow, slavery was less inhumane.
My country Guyana emerged out of a past of which I speak. The population is comprised mainly of persons of African
and East Indian origin making up 85% of the population.
The political environment is characterized by voting among racial lines with the present ruling party the PPP civic
joining in support from the East Indian origin. The main opposition, the People National Congress is supported
mostly by those of African decent whose ancestors came as slaves from Africa to labor on their states run by the
UPN Manufacturers.
Since 1957 the two parties have dominated the political scene. In 1992 after 28 years in opposition, the PPP Civic
Party returned to power and in 197 the PPP again was declared the winner in a very controversial circumstances.
Generally elections are bitterly contested along strong ethnic and cultural plurization. There were charges of
electoral fraud in 1997, which led to mass street protests and marches, which undermined fragile race relations.
The period of elections seriously challenges national unity.
Due to the political and ethnic division of our country, there is a serious problem in governments. This is so
since to maintain its political support government ponders to the supporters. This has led to charges of corruption,
which the government is reluctant to investigate since in cases where investigation is conducted there is a reluctance
to take action.
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