BY ALBERT NYAKUNDI
Human rights lawyer Gitobu Imanyara has celebrated the presidential elections of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana as a fair exercise that reflected the will of the people.
Imanyara was the only Member of the Commonwealth Election Observer Mission to the Guyanese elections from Africa.
He joined a sixteen-member team that included lawyers, political leaders, and members of the civil society.
He was invited by the Secretary General of the Commonwealth on Nations, Baroness Patricia Scotland ahead of the March 2 elections.
Imanyara is an experienced international elections observer having previously observed elections in Uganda, Rwanda, Lesotho and in Bulgaria after the collapse of the Soviet Union.
“As a member of the Commonwealth Election Observer Mission that observed that election, I can reiterate what we said in our final mission statement that the elections were fair, peaceful and truly reflected the will of the Guyanese people.” he said in a press statement sent to Hot News on August 3,2020.
The former Imenti Central MP said President Mohamed Irfaan Ali is now legitimately in office as the duly elected leader and a proud member of the Commonwealth Group of Nations.
The lawyer regretted the death of their team leader and three time Prime Minister of the Barbados Rt.Hon Owen Arthur.
Imanyara said, “He is no longer with us to witness this moment. Surely, he would have celebrated with us this victory for democracy, for the rule of law and the entrenchment of democratic culture of peaceful change of government. May his soul rest in eternal peace.”
He said Arthur was at the forefront in calling for respect of the will of the people of Guyana even in the face of threats of expulsion of the international observer missions that were present in the country.
“It is a matter of great sadness that Mr Owen Arthur died during the period the election result declaration was being unnecessarily litigated in the Guyanese High Court, Court of Appeal and ultimately in the Carribean Court of Justice.” The lawyer said.
He said International Observers were invited by the outgoing President David Granger who had stubbornly refused to accept the results and on whose behalf many vexatious and abuse of process actions had been initiated and prosecuted in the Guyanese courts.
The human rights crusader praised the Guyanese Judiciary for remaining focused.
“A word of deep respect for the Guyanese Judiciary led by their Chief Justice for their patience, courage and perseverance in ensuring that justice was done without fear or favor.” he said.
Imanyara said other Commonwealth jurisdictions have much to learn from the Guyanese.
“There are many lessons to be learnt and to be written about regarding this particular Guyanese election. To those who cling to the notion that there is no value or justification for international election observation here is an irrefutable rebuttal of that notion.” he said.
He praised efforts of the international observers for encouraging, supporting, and collaborating independent result declarations from various regions of the country by the Guyana Election Commission.
Imanyara said even the courts referred to the invaluable reports of the various observer missions.
He said the opposition coalition acknowledged the calming and reassuring effect of the international observers.
“Democracy is not an economic commodity. It is an indispensable assurance of good and accountable governance practice. Participation of election observers validates the universality of elections as an essential ingredient of democracy. There is future for Guyana.” Said Imanyara.
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