Guyana is now poised to advance its tremendous heritage assets towards economic development.
This can build on the preparatory work already conducted with ground communities.
Developing cultural heritage assets to augment economic crises from the Corona Virus Pandemic can also build resilience among communities to face on-going challenges.
Moving the country forward to secure and leverage the benefits of its cultural heritage as a pillar to its economic development of its energy sector can become a model for the region.
Guyana can benefit tremendously in not repeating the mistakes of ignoring and neglecting the value of its rich cultural heritage of its oil-rich neighbours.
The intermingled challenges of economic recovery and building community resilience through heritage is intimately tied to politics too.
Guyana proved the importance of election observers, in its long struggle to asert the validity of its 2020 election result.
The triumph of democracy here is a win for the entire Caribbean and one in which we can all be proud. Congratulations to the Caricom and other Observers who stood for democracy. It makes its mark and would help to redirect the course of Guyana’s political heritage.
Election observers have been a standard feature in recent times to ensure transparency and accountability in Caribbean electoral process with access to various mechanisms of the Commonwealth, Caricom and the Organisation of American States.
Following is the report on the call made for observers in an earlier election, that is still relevant today. as Election process should be transparent and indisputable.
Call for election observers
Bring in Election Observers, says Network
Election process should be transparent and indisputable.
The Network of NGOs of Trinidad and Tobago for the Advancement of Women is calling on the Elections and Boundaries Commission and the Government to request the presence of international election observers and expert teams from the Commonwealth Secretariat, the Organisation of American States and CARICOM for the May 24 General Election.
Election Observers: Ensure that the integrity of our election processes is sound and indisputable; Reinforce Government’s commitment to transparency and democracy.
Dr Kris Rampersad
“We anticipate that this would help to ensure that the integrity of our election processes is sound and indisputable,” says Network Director of International Relations, Dr Kris Rampersad. “It would also reinforce our Government’s commitment to transparency and democracy.
“Already we are hearing sounds on the hustings of fears of gerrymandering, voter padding and interference and it would be useful that measures be taken to assuage any such doubts that may arise over the election results.
“Trinidad and Tobago further committed to the sound governance practices set by the Commonwealth and the Organisation of American States (OAS) last year. We can now request the presence of election observer teams from these institutions to verify and certify the integrity of our election processes so our democratic record will not be tarnished by questions raised during or subsequent to the 2010 Election. It will help ensure that human rights are observed during the conduct of the election.
She explained that as a member of the OAS, Trinidad and Tobago subscribes to the Inter-American Charter, Article 24 of which provides for electoral observation missions on the request of Member States.
The Charter states that the member state shall guarantee conditions of security, free access to information, and full cooperation with the electoral observation mission” and such missions shall be carried out “in accordance with the principles and norms of the OAS … in an objective, impartial, and transparent manner and with the appropriate technical expertise,” which “shall ensure that these missions are effective and independent and shall provide them with the necessary resources for that purpose.”
The OAS, as the Commonwealth and CARICOM, have set guidelines for preparation of observers’ reports and presentation of recommendations, as well as the conduct of Electoral observation missions. Missions must be requested by the Government or the electoral management body, with broad support from civil society and political parties.
According to the Commonwealth Secretariat, “the observation of elections is one way in which the Commonwealth Secretariat works to strengthen democracy. Observer Groups are asked to report on the credibility of the electoral process, whether the conditions exist for a free expression of will by the electors and if the election results reflect the wishes of the people. Each Group’s report also contains practical recommendations to help improve election arrangements for the future.”
- My Date with Narendra Modi – revisiting India in the West reshaping a New World OrderPrelude to a closer look at the India-Caricom Summit, coming on the heels of the Brazil-hosted G20 Summit, and some new AuthenThink Intel AI AnalyEthics and insights into what this should mean for the region, the Americas, the Global South and the emerging New World Order!
- Toxic Politics Petticoat Obsession US Election Knickers A-Twist in Race To The Polls A Woman’s Place When America SneezesIn the cut and thrust of a toxic political culture with a petticoat obsession that leaves many-a-knickers-in-a-twist, how is the USA treating with skews, biases and prejudices that persist in the political playpen and reflecting in its polling analyses, media outputs, advertising and campaign prospects? Dr Kris Rampersad, AuthenThink AI AnalyEthics Development Strategist punches at the appearances in the USA Election Campaign.
- High Stakes in US Elections Leadership Matters to Emerging New World Order – When America SneezesNo matter how vehemently the USA sneezes, virally spreading its cold, flu and pandemic ailments across borders, it is not the whole shebang of the Americas that is our Hemisphere, struggling to assert and affirm myriad identities in a panoramic cultural mosaic
- Future AI SciTech Learnings Passport To A Brave New ImaginedNationSpread the love‘Oh brave new AI world that there’s so much data in’t!’ Missed me since the Data
- What Is A Woman Power Shift in Musical Boardroom Sydnie Transcends Sinatra’s My Way the Hi-WaySpread the love Sydnie pitches Sinatra’s famed cocky melody onto a new path as the potential female anthem
- The Lights that Spark Us! Between Birthdays & Death’s day Shine On! For Denise In TributeOn Birthdays & Death’s Day: We have is this one instant to spark, to negate the ever-present darkness, to shine our pinpricks of light in the endless stream of sparks that connect our floodlight to the satellite of Cosmic Stars. more at www.krisrampersad.com
- Bloody Hell! Toxic Power in King Charles’ Portrait of Planet … Confronting the Colonial MindsetIf Machiavelli and Lady Macbeth had a baby he would look something like the Portrait of King Charles III – a karmic depiction of human ugly, toxic power at its most macabre, noxious and nihilistic, the apocalyptic legacy of Empire inherited and claimed as he morphs into the role of Monarch on whose shoulder sits planetary doom, hands and faced stroked with blood. Art defies artistic intent, sitter’s expectations to define its own truths Dr Kris Rampersad explores art artist sitter and society..,
- Pieces of Ma MotherContinent village inspires a global village Happy Mothers’ DayYou do not need millions of followers to Impact the World. How our mothers did it Message to Girls gripped by social media syndrome Happy Mothers Day!
- What Really Happened On the Road to Guyana? Wanted! A New Journalism for A New Development Agenda – With BBC Gone#3Spread the loveSo if I have resisted jumping on the bandwagon of media shares and commendations, it is
- Mayday! Mayday! Mutated Tech-Savvy Sharks Invade Roadways new Tonton Macoutes Open Letter To Minister of Transport et alNew Tech Savvy Mutant Shark Species Take over Roadways share kinship lineage withe Haiti’s Tonton Macoutes Open Letter to Minister of Transport & Commissioner Roots & Routes of Anarchy Satire & Allegory
- Confronting The Colonial Mindset & Systemised Bias With BBC Gone Who Goin Tek Over Town II Happy Girls In ICT Day!With escalating evidence of the persistent colonial mindset inhibiting the development agenda introducing a new Demokrissy Series to confront the Colonial Mindset, media bias and bias in tech Happy International Girls In ICT Day
- Cover Story Dr Kris Changing The World With Ideas Impact the Future IWD ReflectionsReflecting the Journey to Impact the Future called Wonder Woman Reflections on International Women’s Day Cover Story Changing the World With Ideas
- Creating From Chaos Arresting the Tears for Us and the Haitian EarthCreating from Chaos insights into the Haitian democratic dilemma rooted in an atrocious Colonial past and what artistry may be needed healing and recovery Eye … Haiti …Cries…Everywhere
- Dirty Lyrics CARICOM@50 Guyana President jams on opaque data culture-Impact the Future Women Techmakers Happy IWD!This startling disclosure by Chair of CARICOM, Guyana President Dr Irfaan Ali has repercussions for culture of governance, Data Driven Development, cultural actions for change and gender empowerment Happy International Women’s Day from this Woman Techmakers’ Ambassador
- In the News Digital Dilemma in Caribbean Education Culture New Directions Needed for ICT PlanningHow internet and the technological advancements are causing us to loosen our grip on cultural traditions and heritage, critical to our national and cultural identities and what we can do about it!
- A Carnival Memoire Jus call me Cooligan! Bois and Bacchanal in meh blood One Fine J’Ouvert MornA Carnival expose of the hidden gems of the multicultural mosaic of the Caribbean as we enter the bacchanalia of the season
- Pokney From the Pyre PM Panday Patni/Wife Progeny Poke PatriarchyPresence of Panday’s Patni/wife and Progeny at Hindu pyre cremation implications for cultural practice, discrimination and violence against women and boys’ education