[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 49 (Tuesday, April 28, 1998)]
[House]
[Pages H2361-H2362]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  CONGRATULATING THE PEOPLE OF THE COOPERATIVE REPUBLIC OF GUYANA FOR 
                      HOLDING MULTIPARTY ELECTIONS

  Mr. GALLEGLY. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to 
the concurrent resolution (H. Con. Res. 215) congratulating the people 
of the Co-operative Republic of Guyana for holding multiparty 
elections, as amended.
  The Clerk read as follows:

                            H. Con. Res. 215

       Whereas the people of Guyana voted on December 15, 1997, to 
     re-elect the ruling party, the People's Progressive Party/
     Civic (PPP/Civic);
       Whereas the Guyanese people showed their strong belief in 
     the democratic process by approximately an 88 percent voter 
     turnout;
       Whereas the main opposition party, the People's National 
     Congress (PNC) has alleged that the elections were not free 
     and fair; and
       Whereas although international observers such as the 
     Organization of American States (OAS), the Commonwealth, and 
     the International Foundation of Electoral Systems (IFES) have 
     unanimously agreed, based on their observations on election 
     day, that the polling process was free and fair, it has been 
     alleged that violations occurred in the counting process, 
     necessitating an audit of the elections by the Caribbean 
     Community (CARICOM): Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate 
     concurring), That the Congress--
       (1) congratulates the people of Guyana for holding 
     multiparty presidential elections by proportional 
     representation;
       (2) supports the audit of the elections by the Caribbean 
     Community (CARICOM), an organization deemed acceptable to all 
     parties;
       (3) calls on all parties and opposition leaders to respect 
     the outcome of the audit as the final decision and make a vow 
     to peace and stability in Guyana; and
       (4) calls on the newly elected president of the Co-
     operative Republic of Guyana to respect the rule of law and 
     human rights.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
California (Mr. Gallegly) and the gentleman from Minnesota (Mr. Luther) 
each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from California (Mr. Gallegly).
  Mr. GALLEGLY. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  (Mr. GALLEGLY asked and was given permission to revise and extend his 
remarks.)
  Mr. GALLEGLY. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H. Con. Res. 215. 
During the congressional recess from October of last year until 
February 1998, several nations in the Western Hemisphere, including 
Honduras, Columbia, Jamaica, Costa Rica and Chile, held important 
Presidential, congressional, or municipal elections. These elections 
represented another important step in the consolidation of democracy in 
the Americas. All of these nations deserve our congratulations and 
support.
  One of those elections and subject to this bill was held on December 
15 of last year when the people of Guyana went to the polls and elected 
their new President. H. Con. Res. 215 was introduced by our colleague, 
the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Payne) and congratulates the 88 
percent of the voters of Guyana who participated in their elections.
  By all accounts, these elections were judged to be free and fair by a 
team of international election observers. Despite the fact that some 
ballot counting problems did arise which necessitated an international 
audit, the overall election process was a great success.

                              {time}  1530

  Interestingly enough, the new president, Mrs. Janet Jagan, is a U.S.-
born native of Chicago who succeeds her husband, the former president 
who passed away last year.
  Mr. Speaker, I again want to congratulate all the peoples and the 
nations of the hemisphere who have held free and fair elections over 
the past few months, and commend the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. 
Payne) my good friend, for introducing this resolution, and I urge its 
adoption by the House.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. LUTHER. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume, 
and I rise in support of this resolution.
  Mr. Speaker, I support this resolution and I commend the gentleman 
from New Jersey (Mr. Payne) for introducing it. After the elections in 
December, the situation in Guyana looked grim. Many political actors 
threatened violence and threatened to ignore the outcome of the 
elections. The intervention of the Caribbean Community averted what 
could have been a very violent situation.
  But, Mr. Speaker, democracy in Guyana has a long way to go and this 
resolution recognizes that. All parties in Guyana must recognize the 
rule of law and human rights if democracy is going to overcome years of 
ethnic and racially charged politics, and we are right to call on them 
to do that.
  This resolution deserves our support, and I urge my colleagues to 
join me in voting ``yes'' on this important measure.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. GALLEGLY. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the 
gentleman from New York (Mr. Gilman), the chairman of the Committee on 
International Relations.
  (Mr. GILMAN asked and was given permission to revise and extend his 
remarks.)
  Mr. GILMAN. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to rise in support of H. Con. 
Res. 215. First, I would like to thank the distinguished gentleman from 
California (Mr. Gallegly) chairman of the Subcommittee on the Western 
Hemisphere, and the gentleman from Minnesota (Mr. Luther) who is 
managing the bill for the minority on this measure today.
  Mr. Speaker, I also would like to thank the gentleman from New Jersey 
(Mr. Payne) and the gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Bishop) for submitting 
H. Con. Res. 215.
  On December 15, 1997, Guyana held elections that were judged by 
international monitors to be free and fair elections. However, 
opposition parties alleged some serious irregularities. This resolution 
points out that an audit of the elections was requested of the 
Caribbean Community, CARICOM. This resolution also lends support to 
CARICOM's efforts and urges the competing political parties in Guyana 
to respect the outcome of the CARICOM audit.
  Mr. Speaker, I would like to endorse, particularly, the resolution's 
call on the elected President of Guyana to respect the rule of law and 
human rights.

[[Page H2362]]

 Accordingly, I support H. Con. Res. 215 and I thank the gentlemen for 
bringing it to our attention at this time.
  Mr. LUTHER. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the 
gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Payne), the author of the resolution.
  Mr. PAYNE. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Minnesota (Mr. 
Luther) and the gentleman from California (Mr. Gallegly), and also the 
gentleman from New York (Chairman Gilman) chairman of the full 
committee, for the outstanding work that they have done in this issue 
which is very important to me.
  Mr. Speaker, I am very concerned, and have been, about events in 
Guyana, a wonderful place where the people deserve better.
  First, let me congratulate the people of the Cooperative Republic of 
Guyana for holding multiparty elections on December 15, 1997. I was 
saddened to learn about the violence that erupted post-election. 
Although the Guyanese people showed their strong belief in the 
democratic process, as shown by the 88 percent voter turnout, factions 
in the country called for civil disobedience and there was looting and 
rioting for many days following the elections.
  In January between 15,000 and 20,000 people were rioting in the 
streets. I know that Janet Jagan of the People's Progressive Party/
Civic, PPP/C, won by a small majority. Nevertheless, a win is a win, 
and the majority has a right to rule with minority having the right to 
participate.
  Opposition political parties and international observers invited to 
monitor the elections concluded that while the voting on election day 
was fair and free, there were some concerns with the counting of the 
votes. The results have since been challenged and an audit of the votes 
and the process have been started by the Caribbean Community, CARICOM, 
an organization deemed acceptable to all parties in that country.
  However suspicious the confusion in the election commission, however 
wrong the opposition feels, mob violence does not address any of these 
issues. I will be anxious, as I am sure all of us will be, to hear of 
the results of the audit. At that time I believe we can move forward 
with the president on a number of issues.
  In conclusion, I would hope that all parties, along with the newly 
elected president of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana, will respect 
the rule of law and human rights. I know that in Africa the newly 
elected president of Liberia, Charles Taylor, has appointed members of 
the opposition faction in his country to create a human rights 
organization. I would hope that President Janet Jagan would extend her 
government offices to all of the people of Guyana, and in particular 
the African-Guyanese descent that felt that the election did not go 
right.
  Mr. Speaker, I think that if she brings in all of the political 
parties, opposition as well as majority, I think that the country will 
move forward in the right direction. I am hopeful that it will happen. 
I wish the new President success once there is the conclusion of the 
audit.
  Mr. ACKERMAN. Mr. Speaker, House Concurrent Resolution 215 is a 
straightforward resolution which commends the people of Guyana for 
conducting what were, by all accounts, free and fair elections.
  An assessment of the voting by the International Foundation for 
Election Systems indicates that election day went very smoothly, that 
poll workers were professional, that relations between the poll workers 
and poll watchers from the major parties were cordial, and turnout was 
very high.
  The problems began after the polls closed when it became apparent 
that the poll workers were not as well trained in the mechanics of 
counting the votes as they were in actually administering the polls. In 
some instances, the elections commission had to reject incomplete tally 
sheets because they could not determine where the votes had been cast. 
In addition, the reporting of the returns took several days and caused 
public unease and suspicion which in turn led to unrest and violence.
  The resolution makes note of these issues; commends the Caribbean 
community for its offer to audit the results; and urges all parties to 
respect the outcome of the audit, and to work for peace and stability 
in Guyana by supporting the rule of law and respecting human rights.
  Mr. Speaker, I want to thank and commend our colleagues Congressmen 
Payne and Bishop, for introducing the resolution, and Chairman Gallegly 
for moving forward with the bill.
  I urge my colleagues to support the resolution.
  Ms. CHRISTIAN-GREEN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H. Con. 
Res. 215, and join its sponsors in congratulating the people of Guyana 
for holding multiparty elections.
  Mr. Speaker, the people of the Caribbean have long led the way in 
Latin America in the practice of free and fair elections. Even before 
Jamaica and Trinidad gained their independence from Great Britain in 
the early 1960's, the islands, for the most part, generally were 
engaged in the practice of freely electing their local political 
leaders.
  In addition to Guyana, 1997 also saw free and fair elections in 
Jamaica and in St. Lucia. In my District, the U.S. Virgin Islands, we 
have been electing our Governors since 1970 and our local Legislative 
council since the early 1900's.
  While I support the resolution before us, I must caution that the 
process of the 1997 Guyana election is still ongoing.
  I commend the people of Guyana and the other Caribbean governments 
for their decision to let representatives of CARICOM conduct an audit 
of the 97 Guyana Presidential elections and I call on all concerned to 
await the outcome of the audit.
  Last Friday, my colleagues Donald Payne, the prime sponsor of this 
resolution, Representative Major Owens and our newest colleague, 
Congresswoman Barbara Lee, hosted a breakfast meeting with the 
Secretary General of CARICOM. It was a very informative meeting and I 
believe, will serve as the basis for a closer relationship between 
members of this body and CARICOM.
  Mr. Speaker I applaud efforts of the authors of this resolution and 
the people of Guyana in the struggle for greater democracy and urge my 
colleagues to vote yes on H. Con. Res. 215.
  Mr. GALLEGLY. Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I 
yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. LUTHER. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Barrett of Nebraska). The question is on 
the motion offered by the gentleman from California (Mr. Gallegly) that 
the House suspend the rules and agree to the concurrent resolution, H. 
Con. Res. 215, as amended.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds having voted in favor 
thereof) the rules were suspended, the concurrent resolution, as 
amended, was agreed to.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

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