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 press statement on Saturday, the party noted that Moore is a member of Granger’s party, A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) and was a candidate for the 2018 local government elections, suggesting that the president should be able to direct her actions.
The PPP/C was at the time responding to a statement by Granger on Friday during which he again lamented that the Carib-bean Community (CARICOM) intervention for a total recount of votes cast at Guyana’s March 2 polls was “stymied” by a court action.
According to the PPP/C, Granger’s statement was monotonous, self-serving and sterile.
The PPP/C’s statement charged that while the president proclaims his commitment to free and fair elections, to the CARICOM Initiative and to a total national recount of the ballots cast, he is “hiding behind the cover” of the recently filed High Court proceedings, “which he insinuates, is the reason why he cannot discharge his commitment under the CARICOM Accord brokered by the Chairperson of CARICOM, Prime Minister Mia Mottley.”
“Every rational person can see through this inept façade. Mr Granger has lost all credibility in the eyes of the objective public. These statements of his, irritate more than inform. Everyone knows the truth,” the PPP/C contended.
The party said that Granger can redeem himself if he directs “his commissioners” at the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) to proceed with the recount and directs Moore to withdraw the case.
“He can also make his party’s statements of poll public as the PPP/C has done so that the world can see, transparently, whether his party won the elections,” the statement added.
On Tuesday, Justice Franklyn Holder granted Moore injunctions restraining GECOM, its Chairperson and the Chief Election Officer from permitting or authorising any person or persons pursuant to any agreement between the president and opposition leader and/or any agreement between GECOM and CARICOM to count or recount any ballots cast by electors until an application for judicial review is heard.
The judge also granted an interim injunction restraining GECOM from setting aside or varying results already declared by the respective Returning Officers (ROs) of the 10 electoral Districts in the March 2nd elections until a determination of her application for judicial review.
Also granted was an injunction restraining Chief Election Officer Keith Lowenfield from submitting any report of the total votes cast for each list of candidates pursuant to Section 96 (1) and (2) of the Representation of the People Act, save and except the votes counted and the information provided by the RO under Section 84 (1), until Moore’s application for judicial review is fully heard and determined.
The CARICOM-facilitated full recount was announced two Saturdays ago by Prime Minister Mottley of Barbados, who said Granger had made a request for CARICOM to field a team to supervise the recounting of the ballots in all regions. Jagdeo had agreed to this move, which followed a contentious vote count for Region Four that resulted in allegations of fraud.
Following the granting of injunctions to Moore halting the recount, however, the team has withdrawn. Although the president has voiced his disappointment that the CARICOM intervention had stalled, he is yet to acknowledge that it was a member of his own party who initiated the legal proceedings that was responsible.
