The Justice For All Party (JFAP), a member of the incumbent APNU+AFC coalition, yesterday said it recognised that the opposition People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C) has won the March 2nd elections and it argued that presidential candidate Irfaan Ali should be allowed to be sworn in without any delay.
In a statement issued last evening, JFAP Leader C.N Sharma issued an appeal for those who are seeking to delay the final declaration process to desist.
“It has been an exhausting 108 days for all the sons and daughters of this Nation,” he said before declaring “Enough is enough I say!”
The statement came on the heels of a new court action that has been initiated in order to prevent the Chief Election Officer (CEO) Keith Lowenfield from submitting a report to enable a final declaration from the polls.
Although a national recount process has determined that the PPP/C won the general elections by over 15,000 votes, incumbent president David Granger is yet to concede and the coalition has been maintaining that the voting process was compromised, thereby discrediting the outcome. The coalition previously sought to claim victory on the basis of manufactured results that were supplied by Region Four Returning Officer Clairmont Mingo.
Sharma’s JFAP previously broke ranks with the coalition to press for the recount process to proceed. He said yesterday that the elections have taken place under the watchful eyes of local and international observers and a national recount was carried out under the eyes of CARICOM. “All votes were counted. There is a clear winner,” he noted. “The recount shows that the PPP/C has won the election. Therefore, Mr. Irfaan Ali should be allowed to be sworn in without delay,” he added.
According to Sharma, it is time for Guyana to move on as the people “are starving and suffering” due to unemployment caused by the COVID-19 pandemic and the country needs its government to make decisions. “This is a time we must be strong and stand together. I simply cannot remain silent on this any longer- my love for country is unwavering. Whether we stand on the side of majority or the side of minority- we are all Guyanese,” he further said.
Sharma added that the JFAP joined the coalition government to make a difference for Guyanese and to help the poor and often voiceless people of the country. He registered the party’s gratitude for the opportunity to have been able to serve, while also pledging that the party will continue to represent and serve the thousands of poor and voiceless.
