The Private Sector Commission (PSC) has written to the Chairman of GECOM, Justice (Ret’d) Claudette Singh expressing concern at the unfounded allegations about the March 2nd elections being made by party agents during the ongoing recount.
The PSC released the letter of yesterday’s date to the media. It was signed by Chairman Gerry Gouveia.
It commended the organization of the recount process and the “professional commitment and performance” being generally demonstrated by the staff of GECOM assigned to conduct the recount.
The letter said that the PSC, in collaboration with other Local Observers, has been present at every one of the recount stations and at the tabulation of the results.
It said it has observed that the concerns of all stakeholders are adequately addressed and documented in an Observation Report as required by the Gazetted Order for National Recount.
Once the recount continues in this manner, it will produce a credible recount result, the PSC asserted.
“The Commission, however, has become seriously concerned over party agents being allowed to persistently table matters raising issues based on allegations which are unsupported by the presentation of any credible evidence and which directly question GECOM’s conduct of the elections process on 2nd March, 2020.
“We have observed that the tabling of these lengthy unverified allegations is the cause of inordinate and unjustified delays of the recount.
“We wish to point out that the elections process on 2nd March, 2020, was observed and confirmed by both Local and International Observers as entirely credible and, most recently, in an official broadcast to the nation by President (David) Granger.
“We have observed that during the tabulation, the Observation Reports with unverified allegations and objections are being broadcast publicly without GECOM conducting any investigation as to whether the objections were factual or lawful and without comment from GECOM as to their accuracy or truthfulness.
“It is our considered view that it is extremely dangerous to be publicizing unproven allegations for public consumption”, the PSC stated.
The PSC did not identify any particular party agents but the majority of the complaints have come from APNU+AFC.
It added; “We consider it most unfortunate that the Observation Reports are being used to disseminate unverified information in this manner and urge that you instruct that the Observation Reports not be broadcast unless or until its contents are verified. We further urge that GECOM responds appropriately, promptly and regularly to these allegations made against GECOM’s conduct of the elections which are being placed before the media as a matter of fact”.
The PSC also recommended that GECOM consider revisiting the tabulation process rather than having it done within a fixed time frame every day. It said that efforts could be made to clear the backlog. It said that every Statement of Recount completed should be tabulated on the same day it is completed and not left incomplete for the next day. Tabulation should be done continuously rather than in the daily period of 4PM to 630PM.
The PSC said it looks forward to a credible conclusion of the recount process at the earliest possible time.
