In a unanimous decision giving itself jurisdiction, the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) yesterday set aside the ruling of the Guyana Court of Appeal on valid votes and paved the way for GECOM to finally declare a result for the March 2nd general elections using the figures from the recount.
The court said it was also inconsistent with the constitution for the Chief Election Officer (CEO) or the Guyana Election Commission (GECOM) to disenfranchise thousands of electors in a seemingly non transparent and arbitrary manner, without the due processes established in Article 163 and the National Assembly Validity of Elections Act.
In fact, the apex court said that the local appellate court acted outside its ambit when it pronounced on the constitutional meaning of “votes cast” at the March 2nd polls.