The Private Sector Commission (PSC) has labelled the proposed recount of all votes cast on March 2, 2020 as “an entire waste of time and wholly unnecessary” and called for a limited recount of votes cast in Region 4 to be broadcast live on radio and television as well as live streamed.
In a statement issued yesterday the Commission argued that based on their observations across the country the tabulation process was credible in all but one Electoral District, District 4. Consequently they argue that a recount is only necessary in this district.
“It is the considered position of the PSC, after an exhaustive examination of the facts before us, that, it is only in District 4 that the tabulation and declaration of the results by Returning Officer, Clairmont Mingo, was clearly fraudulent and has no credibility,” they stressed.
Noting that none of the international Observer Teams reported any irregular or unlawful conduct in any other aspect of the electoral process, the Commission went on to claim that a request to extend the recount to Districts other than District Four is a deliberate, unreasonable and unacceptable attempt to delay the conclusion of the recount.
The body has also called for the recount process to be televised and exclude Chief Election Officer Keith Lowenfield, Deputy Chief Election Officer Roxanne Myer whom they misidentified as a Deputy Returning Officer and Region 4 Returning Officer Clairmont Mingo.
According to the PSC the involvement of the Lowenfield, Mingo and Myers materially contributed to the flawed tabulation and verification of the process.
They argue that since the Court has recognized the wide and extraordinary powers of GECOM within the Constitution and the Election Laws (Amendment) Act, GECOM is empowered to remove these officers and replace them with others, so that the public confidence and integrity can be restored.
A live broadcast through various media would they further argue allow Observer teams who are unable to be physically present at GECOM for the recount proceedings to fulfil their mandate while being safe during the COVID 19 pandemic.
“The PSC is committed to continue to observe this recount and believes it essential that the international community and all of the International Observers resume their commitment and active presence to observe the recount,” they stressed while making a direct appeal to the Commonwealth Secretariat, the Organization of American States, the European Union, the Carter Center and the Caribbean Community to return to Guyana for the commencement of the recount by GECOM.
