Guyana Elections 2020

Hundreds of self-styled ‘Guardians of Democracy’ gather daily to keep watch on the ballot boxes from the March 2 general and regional elections which are seen as key to finally establishing the winner and end the crisis that has gripped the country three weeks on.

The opposition People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) has called on President David Granger to instruct Ulita Moore to withdraw her High Court challenge to the legality of a recount of the ballots from the March 2 general election.

In a second statement in less than a week on the Guyana crisis,  Sir Shridath Ramphal has applauded the statement by Dominic Gaskin on the need for a new form of governance and has called for democracy and the rule of law to prevail.

Saying it was “alarmed” at the developments surrounding the tabulation of votes from the March 2 polls the Working People’s Alliance (WPA), a member of the governing A Partnership for National Unity and Alliance For Change (APNU+AFC) coalition, yesterday joined calls being made for a verified recount of ballots cast in all electoral districts, which it said is permitted under the constitution.

Opposition-nominated elections commissioner Robeson Benn has alleged that he was verbally abused and threatened while at the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) Headquarters yesterday morning and he has since written to Commissioner of Police Leslie James voicing his concerns about the encounter.

Rejecting the controversial vote count that was initially declared by Region Four Returning Officer (RO) Clairmont Mingo, AFC executive and former Business Minister Dominic Gaskin on Friday said there needs to be a full investigation to determine if there was wrongdoing by Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) officials in connection with the integrity of Statements of Poll (SOPs) or the tabulation of results from the March 2 elections.

One day after political parties called for the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) to facilitate the security of the ballots cast on March 2, 2020 by ensuring all were stored at a central location, the secretariat has relocated the containers with the ballot boxes from the Arthur Chung Convention Centre to its High and Cowan streets office.

In congratulating Organisation of American States (OAS) Secretary General  Luis Almagro on his re-election today, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has cited Guyana’s electoral process as one of the challenges now facing the organization.

The Carter Center observer team this afternoon announced it was leaving Guyana.

Roman Catholic bishops of the Caribbean today urged those responsible for the verification process of the March 2nd general elections to bring it to an early completion.

Former Minister of Foreign Affairs Sir Shridath Ramphal yesterday said that the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) can still play a role in supervising a recount of the ballots cast in the March 2 general and regional elections and has urged that peace and progress be pursued lawfully and transparently. 

Former army chief Joe Singh has called on President David Granger to exercise leadership and direct with the Guyana Elec-tions Commission (GECOM) a  recount of the ballots cast in the March 2 general and regional elections.

The Commonwealth Observer Group to the March 2 general and regional elections yesterday reiterated its criticism that  the vote tabulation process for the all-important Region Four was “not credible” and has express-ed regret that a Caribbean Community (CARICOM) team to recount the ballots has departed.

Former Commissioner of Police Seelall Persaud has decried the conduct of law enforcers this week at the Arthur Chung Convention Centre and urged members of the Guyana Police Force to maintain professionalism in executing their duties.

The Commonwealth Observer Group to the March 2nd general elections today said that two purported tabulations of the Region Four vote by Returning Officer Clairmont Mingo were not credible or transparent.

Major General (Ret’d) Joe Singh today called on President David Granger to call off the “Dogs of War” and to enable GECOM to complete an orderly recount of the ballots cast at the March 2nd general elections.

CARICOM’s electoral rescue mission collapsed dramatically yesterday after legal action against it and Chair of the movement, Mia Mottley charged that there were forces here that do not want the votes from the March 2nd general elections recounted and she warned again that a government sworn in without a credible tabulation would not have legitimacy.

High Court judge Franklyn Holder has granted an injunction restraining the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) from authorising a recount of ballots cast at the March 2 elections based on the agreement between President David Granger and Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo.

According to opposition-nominated member of the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM), Sase Gunraj, the country is in a very precarious place which requires careful thinking and mature leadership.

The People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) has asked its supporters to remain vigilant and calm and to stay home until guidance from the Party.