Guyana Elections 2020

The Private Sector Com-mission (PSC) is doubling down on its position that a vote recount confined to District 4 is sufficient and to include the other nine Districts is unnecessary and unreasonably prolongs the declaration of the elections results from the March 2nd polls.

Chief Election Officer Keith Lowenfield yesterday proposed a 156-day-long recount of ballots from the disputed March 2 general and regional elections, which the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) defended even as most of the contesting parties dubbed it unacceptable.

In orders issued yesterday afternoon, the Guyana Court of Appeal reiterated that while the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) can proceed with a recount of the ballots cast in the March 2nd general and regional elections, it cannot abdicate or delegate its supervisory function over the election process, more particularly the recount of the ballots.

CARICOM is once again being invited to be present at a recount of the ballots cast in the March 2 General Elections, this time by GECOM itself.

The Private Sector Commission (PSC) has labelled the proposed recount of all votes cast on March 2, 2020 as “an entire waste of time and wholly unnecessary” and called for a limited recount of votes cast in Region 4 to be broadcast live on radio and television as well as live streamed.

Though the Guyana Court of Appeal had said on Sunday that consequential orders would have been issued yesterday following a ruling that cleared the way for the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) to proceed with a recount of the ballots cast in the March 2nd general and regional elections, those orders are now expected today.

The Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago has labelled as “disturbing” an Appeals Court ruling which found that the Guy-ana Elections Commission (GECOM) could not allow a team of experts from the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) to “supervise” a recount of ballots cast in the March 2,2020 Elections.

The Liberty and Justice Party has asked that Returning Officer Clairmont Mingo and Deputy Chief Election Officer (DCEO) Roxanne Myers be excluded from the proposed recount of votes cast in the March 2 Elections.

The Guyana Court of Appeal yesterday cleared the way for the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) to proceed with a recount of the ballots cast in the March 2nd general and regional elections but emphasised that GECOM cannot delegate its supervisory authority to any other body.

A “Burnhamite faction” has taken control of the PNCR and will wage a bitter fight to ensure they continue to enjoy a good life, says former PNCR parliamentarian Jerome Khan.

The March 16th Aide Memoire governing the recount of votes at the March 2nd general elections at which a CARICOM team was to be present had recognised the supremacy of the constitution in this matter (see below).

Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago Dr Keith Rowley yesterday expressed disappointment and concern at the ongoing delay in executing a credible tabulating of the votes cast in Guyana’s March 2 general and regional elections.

For the second time in three weeks, the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) has agreed to have every ballot cast in the March 2 general and regional elections recounted, raising hopes that an elections crisis that has gripped the country can finally be resolved and lead to the swearing in of a President more than a month after voting.

The Guyana Elections Commission this morning formally agreed that a recount of votes for the March 2 general elections will proceed for all regions.

More than a month after the March 2nd general elections, the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) has promised that a decision will be made today on the way forward in the protracted process which has triggered political gridlock.

US Ambassador to Guyana, Sarah-Ann Lynch today issued a statement defending the input by her and US government officials on the need for a fair result from the March 2nd general elections here.

The Commonwealth Ministerial Action Group (CMAG) set up by the Commonwealth to deal with persistent and serious violators of its shared principles today called on GECOM “to immediately fulfil its constitutional mandate and ensure the sovereign right of the people of Guyana to duly elect their Government is respected through a transparent and credible counting and tabulation process”.

As her attorney had announced, APNU+AFC candidate Ulita Grace Moore will be appealing the Full Court’s decision discharging injections she had previously been granted which had halted preparations for a recount of votes cast at the March 2nd polls.

The Full Court yesterday morning discharged injunctions previously granted to APNU+AFC candidate Ulita Grace Moore, thereby paving the way for the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) to commence a recount of the votes cast at the March 2nd polls.

The Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) is expected to meet at 10 am today to make a decision on the way forward after the Full Court made the decision to discard injunctions which prevented a recount of votes cast at the March 2 General and Regional Elections.