The Opposition People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C) has officially complained to the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) about calls by various leaders of the APNU+AFC on the campaign trail for their supporters to congregate at polling places after closing on March 2nd and “protect their ballot”
In a letter to the Chair, retired Justice Claudette Singh, the PPP/C said it was “gravely disturbed” by APNU+AFC leaders urging their supporters to “assemble in large numbers at Polling places at the close of polls to protect their ballot.” The letter signed by executive member Anil Nandlall asks that the Commission publicly denounce statements of the type referenced and reassure the electorate that the Commission will not tolerate assembly of persons on or around places of poll during or after polling.
The letter which is dated January 29 is copied to the Ethnic Relations Commission (ERC) and representatives of the United States of America, Britain, Canada and the European Union. Notably it was written four days after Chief Election Officer Keith Lowenfield advised the public that it is illegal to converge at polling places.
In its January 26 edition the Sunday Stabroek reported Lowenfield as stating it is illegal for any individual to be closer than 200 yards to any polling station.
He said anyone who is found annoying, molesting or otherwise interfering with voters can be sentenced to six months imprisonment or fined a sum of $65,000.
“At our engagements with the representatives ……primarily with the agents of the respective parties those matters will be addressed in a definitive manner,” Lowenfield said.
There is no acknowledgment of this statement in the letter which makes specific mention of candidate Gary Best as well as Ministers Winston Jordan and Basil Williams.
It also quotes Minister Volda Lawrence, who chairs the People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR) the largest party in the APNU+AFC coalition
“When 6 o clock hit, comrades, you should already have your bath and put on your nightshift clothing. You understand what I am saying comrades? This is not a time to be caught sleeping; they must not catch us sleeping. At 6 o clock, you return to work at the places of polling and you will remain out there and let our staff inside know you are out there; and then our nice strong men will be mobilised to follow that ballot box for it to go into that container and have the APNU+AFC padlock and chain placed on that container….” Lawrence is quoted as telling a public meeting at Kitty.
The Opposition argues that the number of candidates who have made the statement suggest it is a “deliberate policy of the APNU+AFC” and reminded the Chair that “violence and riotous behavior are common features of Elections in Guyana.”
“An examination of the public record will (reveal) that these groups which surround polling places when darkness descends, degenerates into violence, arson and malicious damage to property,” the party contends while referencing the violence which erupted on the day of the last General and Regional Elections.
“Even senior APNU+AFC leaders who appeared on the scene could not quell this assembly [of] coalition supporters which was quickly transformed into a mob,” he noted before concluded that statements of the type attributed to Lawrence are therefore a sure recipe for disaster.
“GECOM and the security forces are quite competent to secure and convey the ballots to its requisite locations and no political party ought to be involved in this process excepts as authorized by the Representation of the People’s Act,” the letter stresses while reminding that “the provisions of sections 78(A) of the Represen-tation of the People Act which makes it a criminal offence for any persons without authority, to obstruct or otherwise interfere with the conveyance of election materials, ballot boxes and ballot papers.”
Justice Singh has since acknowledged receipt of the letter and informed Nandlall that its contents will be discussed at the commission’s next meeting scheduled for February 4.
