Head of the Presidential Secretariat Dr. Roger Luncheon today said that President Donald Ramotar’s recent accusations that APNU and AFC manipulated the results of the 2011 general elections are justifiable.
Ramotar was quoted in the Guyana Chronicle’s Sunday edition as saying “For sure, I think we had over 50%. I think we lost some votes, no doubt, but I don’t think we lost enough to bring us under 50%, but the results were through manipulation when asked whether the PPP/C was robbed.
He later said that “My own realistic assessment was that we had probably between 52 [and] 53”, while also indicating that his party withdrew requests for partial recounts to avert any outbreak of violence.
“The external observers have pronounced and it is our contention if not withstanding what they have said that there is indeed justification for the comments made by the president. You might know that the PPP was the only contending party in the elections that lodged an objection or objections within the stipulated time frame. You might know also that after discussions the PPP withdrew those objections, primarily in Regions Three and Four”, Luncheon said in response to questions from this newspaper during a post-Cabinet press briefing.
Luncheon did not respond to a question on if it is the party’s position the elections were rigged but did address a question on the legitimacy of his government and the basis for the accusation.
“I don’t believe that the statement in any way could be construed to be a reflection or to have an impact on the legitimacy of the government save and except you might be speaking about the government and the plurality”, he said, pointing out that this is exactly what the president was alluding to.
“There wasn’t any question of the constitutionality of the decision made by the commission in appointing Donald Ramotar as the president of Guyana after the elections”, he said.
It was noted that what the president’s remarks led to, was an examination of the vote counting, the plurality and “most of his comments address those instances where the PPP insists that mischief was afoot in counting the votes”.
He said too that the PPP was the only one that lodged an objection or objections within the stipulated time frame.
Ramotar’s remarks have been strongly condemned by the Leader of the Opposition David Granger. The Guyana Elections Commission has thus far made no statement on the matter.
The PPP/C ended up with 48.6% of the vote which meant that it lost control of Parliament for the first time since 1992.
