While not naming Chief Election Officer Keith Lowenfield, the Organization of American States yesterday said that one of the principal obstacles to the declaration of a result from Guyana’s March 2 elections is “a person whose duty it is to defend Guyana’s democracy through ensuring respect for the results of elections.”
The OAS statement was a clear reference to Lowenfield and came amid his continued defiance of instructions from Guyana Elections Commission Chairperson Claudette Singh to present a final result based on the recount of votes.
The OAS said it had already stated on April 15 that such persons should have no part in the current or future electoral processes.
Just over two weeks ago the OAS encouraged GECOM to move forward in concluding Guyana’s electoral process, based on the results of the national recount, and in accordance with the will of the majority of the electorate.
The results of the recount, which show that the opposition People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) secured 233,336 votes compared to the incumbent APNU+AFC coalition’s 217,920, were expected to be used by GECOM to declare a winner but the process has been stalled by a legal challenge and an attempt by Lowenfield to invalidate over 115,000 votes.
Following a pronouncement by the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ), the OAS said the court has confirmed that GECOM has the final authority to declare these elections and that the Chief Election Officer is required to comply with the Commission’s directives in this regard.
“The OAS notes and commends the instructions of the GECOM Chair, Justice Claudette Singh (ret’d), issued on July 9 and reiterated on July 10, that the Chief Elections Officer should prepare and submit his report using the results generated by the national recount,” it said.
However, the body said regrettably developments over the last two days suggest that efforts continue to avoid compliance with these obligations and to further prolong the term of the current government. “The OAS notes that one of the principal obstacles to completing Guyana’s current electoral process is a person whose duty it is to defend Guyana’s democracy through ensuring respect for the results of elections,” it added, while reiterating a previous position that GECOM should exclude those persons whose actions display clear partisan bias, and who apply this bias unreservedly in hindering the natural unfolding of the democratic process in Guyana from current and all future electoral processes.
“A credible conclusion of the 2020 elections is essential if Guyana is to remain a democracy. The OAS will continue to support the efforts of the people of Guyana towards this end,” it added.
