Despite the continuing contentions over the recount of votes from the March 2 polls and the challenges posed by a curfew imposed to tackle the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19), the self-styled ‘Guardians of Democracy’ remain committed to safeguarding the containers of ballot boxes stored at the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) Headquarters at Kingston, Georgetown.
The representatives of various political parties and members of civil society have been keeping watch over the containers since last month due to concerns that attempts could be made to tamper with them in light of the attempts made to declare the results for Region Four through dubious means.
On Sunday, this newspaper observed four persons present. They were observed to be practising social distancing as some stayed in their cars while others sat short distances away from each other.
A month ago when this newspaper had visited the atmosphere was different as many supporters had congregated and kept the Guardians’ company. Meals were also being delivered to the site.
However, the atmosphere on Sunday was sombre as those present were just executing their duties and waited for the shift change. Despite this, they all showed their commitment and pledged to remain on the watch for as long as it takes.
“We are all here as usual. Our team has not been broken. We have been coming out, the same regular shift systems. I would run the 6am to 6pm [shift] and I will get like 6 persons in the morning and in the night another comrade will take over the shift,” Asif Mohamed, one of the founding members of the group, told Stabroek News.
He explained that despite the curfew, they are still being allowed to watch over the containers. However, police have ordered that they keep their gathering to a minimum.
Mohamed said persons are still supporting the cause, although he acknowledged that the protracted post-elections crisis is fueling frustration as it is unclear when the political situation will return to normalcy.
“This is getting frustrating every time GECOM is coming up with a new delaying tactic. We are committed to guarding the boxes but we are volunteering here and some of us have to work so it’s been kind of hard,” he admitted.
He also said that the chair of the GECOM, retired judge Claudette Singh, should come out and give an independent decision and “let us move forward. We need the country to move on.”
“We intend to hold as long as it takes because we know the PPP won and we will stay as long as it takes because we are fighting for our democracy. The world knows and the people know that the PPP won the election… we should not have been in this situation, we should have had a transition of governments but that instead we are in a deadlock situation but we will maintain to keep eye on containers,” Mohamed declared.
The movement started two weeks after the country would have voted and the containers containing the ballots were moved to the Arthur Chung Conference Centre at Liliendaal, Greater George-town to facilitate a recount, which was expected to be supervised by a high level team from the Caribbean Community (CARICOM). That initiative later collapsed and the containers were returned to Kingston.
