Six of the ten political parties which contested elections in Region Four have welcomed the call for a recount of votes and called for the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) to facilitate the security of all the ballots cast on March 2, 2020.
“At the time of writing of this press release, the Container with Region Six Ballots and the Container with the Region 4 East Coast Ballots are not stored at the Arthur Chung Convention Centre in Liliendaal, where all the other containers for the other regions and sub-regions are stored. We urgently request that this irregularity be corrected immediately,” the parties said in a joint statement.
According to the statement it is of paramount importance that the security of the containers containing the voting ballots be preserved and this is best achieved by all containers being stored at a central location.
Additionally they called for party scrutineers to be permitted on site and to guard against any tampering with the ballot boxes.
Stabroek News understands that scrutinizers continue to camp out at ACCC but it is not clear if any have been allowed to enter the Commission’s High Street office where the other containers are located.
Questions on the issue directed to GECOM Public Relations Officer Yolanda Ward remained unanswered up to press time.
The parties added that they have jointly or individually applied as respondents to the interim ex-parte application granted by the Honourable Justice Franklyn Holder set for hearing at 9:00 AM today.
“We feel strongly that the injunction is without merit as it seeks to undermine the clear statement made by the Chairperson of GECOM to have a recount of the votes, and the joint agreement signed by President David Granger and Opposition Leader, Bharrat Jagdeo,” they said.
The parties have welcomed the call for a recount of all ballots to allow for a declaration by GECOM in keeping with The Representation of the People Act Chapter 1:03 and Election Laws (Amendment) Act 2000.
“The urgent need for a recount arises from unlawful and/or illegal actions, highlighted by the actions and declarations from the returning officer of Region 4, Mr. Clairmont Mingo, which also constituted breaches of relevant legislation and extant Orders of the Chief Justice,” they have reminded, adding that GECOM chair retired Justice Claudette Singh on March 14, 2020 committed to having recounts done.
Noting the threats of sanctions from the international community in general and the ABCE countries in particular, which can include personal sanctions against all those who participated in the process to undermine democracy by acting outside of the rule of law, they have expressed support for the statement from the US Department of State which emphasized that the people of Guyana deserve a credible election and transfer of power that reflects the will of the people in accordance with the laws of Guyana.
Additionally they have called on all Guyana to understand that the political parties outside of APNU-AFC are working for a peaceful and legal resolution to this situation and we remain committed to respecting the results emanating from the recount and for democratic norms to prevail.
The statement was signed by Change Guyana, the People’s Progressive Party/Civic, United Repub-lic Party, A New United Guyana, The New Move-ment and The Citizenship Initiative.
