VIEWS OF ELECTIONS COMMISSION CHAIRMAN SINGH ON THE JANUARY 2001 PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION

• Document Type: FOIA
• Collection: FOIA Collection
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 06848449
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: U
• Document Page Count: 2
• Document Creation Date: March 9, 2023
• Document Release Date: June 29, 2021
• Case Number: F-2019-00845
• Publication Date: June 6, 2000

Approved for Release: 2021/06/28 C06848449
R 060630Z JUN 00
FM CIA
S E74E T NOFORN
SERIAL
CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY
WARNING: INFORMATION REPORT, NOT FINALLY EVALUATED INTELLIGENCE
REPORT CLASS S E E T--NOFORN
DIST: 6 JUNE 2000
COUNTRY: GUYANA
SUBJ: VIEWS OF ELECTIONS COMMISSION CHAIRMAN SINGH ON THE JANUARY 2001
PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION
DO!:
SOURCE:
SUMMARY: NONE
TEXT: I. GUYANA'S NEWLY APPOINTED ELECTIONS COMMISSION CHAIRMAN, FORMER
CHIEF OF STAFF OF THE GUYANA DEFENSE FORCES (GDF) RETIRED MAJOR GENERAL
JOSEPH ((SINGH)), WAS, SOMEWHAT CONCERNED REGARDING THE
REACTION OF HIS FORMER TROOPS TO THE JANUARY 2001 PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION.
SINGH LAMENTED THAT THE GDF WAS A SERIOUSLY UNDERFUNDED ORGANIZATION
WITH RELATIVELY LOW MORALE, AND NOTED THAT ALTHOUGH HE ALWAYS FELT
CONFIDANT HE COULD CONTROL HIS TROOPS WHILE HE LED THEM, HE WAS UNSURE
HOW THEY MIGHT ACT UNDER THEIR NEW LEADER IF VIOLENCE BROKE OUT AFTER THE
ELECTION.
2. SINGH NOTED THAT HE HAD A FAIRLY LOW OPINION OF HIS SUCCESSOR, BRIGADIER
MICHAEL ((ATHERLY)), WHOM HE VIEWED AS CORRUPT AND EXTREMELY SELF-
INTERESTED. SINGH DISPARAGINGLY NOTED THAT ATHERLY WAS A CLOSE FRIEND OF
POLICE COMMISSIONER LAURIE ((LEWIS)), WHOM SINGH CONSIDERED TO BE
THOROUGHLY CORRUPT AND HEAVILY INVOLVED IN CRIMINAL ACTIVITY. SINGH
WORRIED THAT ATHERLY MIGHT COMPROMISE THE GDF'S NEUTRALITY IN THE
ELECTION BY LENDING HIS SUPPORT TO THE HIGHEST BIDDER IN EXCHANGE FOR
POLITICAL FAVORS THAT WOULD BENEFIT HIM PERSONALLY. SINGH CONCLUDED THAT
HIS FORMER INFLUENCE IN THE GDF WOULD MEAN LITTLE BY THE TIME THE ELECTION
OCCURRED BECAUSE HE WOULD NOT BE IN A POSITION TO OFFER THE GDF RANK-AND-
FILE ANYTHING IN EXCHANGE FOR THEIR ALLEGIANCE, WHILE ATHERLY LIKELY WOULD
SECURE SOME ADVANTAGE FOR HIS TROOPS IN ANY DEAL HE STRUCK.
3. SINGH COMMENTED THAT HE BELIEVED GUYANA'S MAJOR POLITICAL PARTIES, THE
RULING PEOPLE'S PROGRESSIVE PARTY (PPP) AND THE OPPOSITION PEOPLE'S NATIONAL
CONGRESS (PNC), WOULD WORK TO ENSURE THAT WORKABLE ELECTION REFORM, AND
THE CONDITIONS STIPULATED IN THE DONOR COUNTRIES' MEMORANDUM OF
UNDERSTANDING, WOULD BE MET IN TIME TO ENSURE A RELATIVELY SMOOTH
ELECTION. SINGH STATED THAT, PARADOXICALLY, BOTH PARTIES WERE CONVINCED
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THAT THE SOONER THE ELECTION WAS HELD, THE BETTER THEIR CHANCES OF VICTORY
WOULD BE. THE PPP FEARED A DETERIORATING ECONOMY, WHICH WOULD TRANSLATE
INTO LOSSES AT THE POLLS, WHILE THE PNC WORRIED THAT THE LONGER THE PPP
REMAINED IN OFFICE, THE GREATER ITS ABILITY TO IMPROVE CONDITIONS IN GUYANA
WHILE USING GOVERNMENT LARGESSE TO SECURE ADDITIONAL VOTES. BECAUSE OF
THOSE VIEWS, SINGH BELIEVED BOTH SIDES WOULD COMPROMISE SUFFICIENTLY IN THE
COMING MONTHS TO ESTABLISH A WORKABLE FRAMEWORK FOR THE ELECTION.
4. SINGH CONTINUED THAT, ALTHOUGH HE WAS WELL AWARE OF THE IMPORTANCE
OF HIS CURRENT POSITION, HE WAS CONCERNED WITH THE POSITION'S LACK OF ANY
REAL POWER. SINGH BELIEVED THAT THE SINGLE TOOL AVAILABLE TO HIM TO FORCE
COMPROMISE AND PROGRESS IN THE ELECTION WAS PUBLICLY EXPOSING GROUPS OR
INDIVIDUALS WHO MIGHT ATTEMPT TO HAMPER THE REFORM PROCESS. ADDITIONALLY,
SINGH NOTED THAT IM COULD TURN TO THE INTERNATIONAL AND DIPLOMATIC
COMMUNITY TO EXERT PRESSURE IN GUYANA; HOWEVER, HE ADMITTED THAT HE HAD
NO REAL SENSE OF THE ABILITY OF LOCAL DIPLOMATIC REPRESENTATIVES TO ACT
QUICKLY WITHOUT HAVING TO CONSULT THEIR SUPERIORS IN THEIR RESPECTIVE
CAPITALS. SINGH STATED THAT HE PRIMARILY WOULD CONSIDER TURNING TO THE
EMBASSIES OF THE U.K., CANADA, AND UNITED STATES FOR SUPPORT. HE SAID HE DID
NOT TRUST THE CHINESE AND CUBAN DIPLOMATS EVEN THOUGH HE HAD EXCELLENT
CONTACTS IN BOTH GROUPS.
POC:
WELCOME.
ACQ:
COMMENTS, EVALUATIONS, AND REQUIREMENTS
WARNING: REPORT CLASS SECRE T--NOT RELEASABLE TO FOREIGN NATIONALS.
ALL PORTIONS CARRY CLASSIFICATION AND CONTROLS OF OVERALL DOCUMENT.
END OF MESSAGE
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