Although acknowledging new president David Granger, former president Donald Ramotar yesterday maintained that a recount would have proven that the PPP/C won the close May 11th elections and he said all legal options for redress would be pursued, including an elections petition.
In a statement that was issued by the Government Information Agency (GINA) during Granger’s swearing in ceremony, Ramotar all but conceded, while urging supporters to remain calm in the face of what he dubbed “widespread provocation” associated with triumphalism.
“Let us not be daunted but redouble our efforts to keep our party strong and resilient. As we look to the future we will stand with our people to continue the struggle for freedom and democracy as we did decades before,” he stated.
Ramotar also pledged that the PPP/C would continue to work for a strong democracy, a cohesive society and a better Guyana as the country enters a new phase of its political life. “My party is proud of our record in nurturing and building a free and democratic country. Clearly these elections demonstrate that the freedom we have can still be compromised but we have always acted in the interests of all of our people. We will continue to do so and will remain steadfast in our commitment to serve all Guyanese and to work for the unity, stability and progress of our country,” he said.
He also urged Granger and the APNU+AFC leadership to take urgent responsibility for the preservation of peace, the respect for all our citizens regardless of race, colour or creed and the protection of all Guyanese irrespective of political affiliation.
According to the official results declared yesterday by the Guyana Elections Commission (Gecom), the APNU+AFC alliance won the general elections with 207, 200 votes to the PPP/C’s 202,694 votes, securing both the presidency and control over the 65-seat National Assembly.
But Ramotar maintained that the results were “shrouded in controversy” and the PPP/C was “disappointed, hurt and aggrieved” at the outcome.
He noted that the PPP/C had requested that Gecom conduct a recount of the ballots cast in view of “the several irregularities and discrepancies” found during and after the day of the elections.
“We believe that the electoral processes were severely compromised. That is why we requested a recount of the ballots. Regrettably, our repeated requests were denied by Gecom,” he, however, added.
Ramotar charged that the right to universal adult suffrage and its exercise of “one person, one vote” was “again under threat” and insisted that Gecom by its constitutional mandate and the observer missions have made their pronouncements on the elections without taking into account the “real concerns” that the PPP/C has brought to their attention.
“My party remains convinced that a recount would have proven beyond any shadow of doubt that the electoral processes had been compromised and the PPP/C would have won,” he said, while adding that it has agreed to pursue options for redress under the constitution and the law, including an elections petition.
“Once again we are being removed from office, not through the will of our people, but by electoral manipulations. Yet we will remain steadfast in our commitment to the principles of freedom and democracy,” he further said.
International and local observer missions have given the polls a clean bill of health, while saying there was no evidence of any issues that would materially impact the outcome.
Despite his position that the PPP/C won, Ramotar signaled his exit, saying it has been a “humble honour” to serve as president of over the past three years and noting that he upheld his sworn duty to carry out his mandate without fear or favour. Ramotar served as president from December 4, 2011 to May 16, 2015, after succeeding Bharrat Jagdeo.
He also thanked PPP/C members and supporters for [their] unwavering commitment and support and for the confidence which they reposed in the party and he promised that it will remain steadfast in our commitment to the principles of freedom and democracy.
