Guyana Elections 2020

While still maintaining confidence that the governing APNU+AFC coalition has won the disputed March 2 general elections, the AFC yesterday said that whichever party forms the next government must show “magnanimity” and “accede” to an agreed governance pact that encompasses shared governance and “national unity”.

Following an application by Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo, the Full Court yesterday stayed the proceedings initiated by APNU+AFC candidate Ulita Grace Moore to halt a recount of the votes cast at the March 2 polls and will today rule whether it has the jurisdiction to hear his appeal.

Justice Franklyn Holder is this afternoon expected to rule on whether he has jurisdiction to hear a challenge by Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo to the legality of a March 13th declaration of results for Electoral District Four (Region Four), made by Returning Officer (RO) Clairmont Mingo.

President David Granger should exert his leadership and ensure that there is a recount of ballots and should take an example from the late President Desmond Hoyte and reach out to the PPP/C to work together, says former PPP/C Finance Minister and veteran politician Asgar Ally.

The Guyana Human Rights Association (GHRA) is calling on the Chairperson of the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) to urgently recount the votes cast in Region 4 and end the pain, shame and embarrassment Guyanese are now facing over the March 2nd general elections.

In a statement released yesterday the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) has reiterated that there is no breakdown in the rule of law in Guyana and stressed that the APNU+AFC coalition government remains in place until a successor is declared and sworn-in in its stead.

The Chairperson of the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) retired Justice Claudette Singh has submitted to Justice Franklyn Holder an affidavit contending that GECOM is fully empowered under the Constitution of Guyana to order a recount of votes at the March 2 general elections if necessary.

Ruling that it was not the correct forum at which to entertain such an application, Justice Franklyn Holder yesterday rejected the request made by Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo to have the statements of poll (SOPs) for Region Four disclosed to the court, stating that the proper forum would be an elections petition.

The Private Sector Commission (PSC) yesterday expressed disappointment at the response by Chair of the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM), retired Justice Claudette Singh, to its request for the release of copies of all the Statements of Poll (SoP) for every district.

Chairman of the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) retired Justice Claudette Singh has “withdrawn” from the High Court an incorrect affidavit filed on her behalf in response to the case brought by APNU+AFC candidate Ulita Moore challenging a recount of votes.

Although he acknowledged that threatened sanctions are a concern, APNU+AFC campaign co-chair Joseph Harmon is not backing away from supporting results delivered by the Region Four Returning Officer (RO) which have been widely described both here and abroad as rigged.

The Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) yesterday said it has noted calls for it to ensure the electoral process ends shortly but that it has to await a ruling of the court.

While the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) is currently refusing to release statements of poll (SOPs) being requested by the Opposition PPP/C and other small parties, in 2011 it had acquiesced to a similar request made by A Partnership for National Unity (APNU).

Stabroek News is publishing hereunder 116 Statements of Poll (SoPs) that it collected in Region Four on the night of the March 2nd general elections and the days following.

Justice Franklyn Holder will first rule on whether he has jurisdiction to hear the lawsuit filed by APNU+AFC candidate Ulita Grace Moore, who has moved to halt a recount of ballots cast at the March 2 polls, before making a determination of whether statements of poll (SOPs) for Region Four can be disclosed to the court as requested by Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo.

Pioneering businessman Yesu Persaud has called on President David Granger  to take steps to ensure the preservation of democracy in Guyana.

Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo wants all statements of poll (SOPs) for votes cast in Region Four at the March 2 general and regional elections to be produced to the court by the Guyana Election Commission (GECOM).

Days after the Georgetown Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI) condemned the police for an “aggressive” posture towards members of the political parties and observer teams during the electoral process, the Guyana Police Force (GPF) yesterday defended its actions.

The United States National Security Council (NSC) yesterday issued a Twitter statement in support of democracy here.

In a second statement in a matter of days on the elections crisis here,  Sir Shridath Ramphal has warned that the country this week will choose a path that will either lead it to a good Guyana or a failed state.