The United States National Security Council (NSC) yesterday issued a Twitter statement in support of democracy here.
The NSC tweet further underscores Washington’s continuous pressure on the authorities here for an accurate tabulation of the Region Four count.
In the tweet the Council stated that the U.S. is committed to the Americas becoming the first fully free hemisphere.
It goes on to note that the country stands “with the people of Guyana who want to protect the integrity of their democracy, maintain peace and preserve regional stability while we collectively confront COVID2019.”
The mention of the coronavirus was unusual but could have been a reference to persons keeping vigil over ballot boxes at GECOM’s HQ in Kingston while also observing precautions against the coronavirus.
The council further endorsed a statement from Secretary of State Mike Pompeo in which he said the United States is closely monitoring the tabulation of votes in Guyana.
Seconds after criticizing the International Criminal Court for “attempts to investigate or prosecute Americans”, Pompeo joined the Organisation of American States (OAS), the Commonwealth, Euro-pean Union (EU), Carib-bean Community (CARICOM), and other democratic partners in calling for an accurate count.
“We commend CARICOM’s role in seeking a swift, democratic resolution, and it’s important to note that the individuals who seek to benefit from electoral fraud and form illegitimate governments, regimes will be subject to a variety of serious consequences from the United States,” he added.
According to the White House’s website the NSC is the President’s principal forum for considering national security and foreign policy matters with his senior national security advisors and cabinet officials.
Since its inception the Council’s function has been to advise and assist the President on national security and foreign policies, it notes adding that the Council also serves as the President’s principal arm for coordinating these policies among various government agencies.
Stabroek News had reported yesterday that hundreds of self-styled ‘Guardians of Democracy’ gather daily to keep watch on the ballot boxes from the March 2 general and regional elections.
The boxes which are stored at the GECOM headquarters have been labelled the “last hope for Guyana’s democracy” and those who gather argue that they are providing an essential service.
They have gathered for the last seven days despite a global novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) crisis that has seen dozens of countries including Guyana shutting their borders and urging social distancing.
Guyana with five confirmed cases including one death from COVID19 has closed all schools and placed public servants on a rotation system in an attempt to prevent community spread of the disease which has infected in excess of 300,000 globally and been responsible for more than 14,000 deaths over the last five months.
