-visas to be pulled from those undermining democracy here
The United States government yesterday called on the David Granger-led APNU+AFC administration to step aside in recognition of the results of the March 2nd general elections and it also announced visa restrictions for persons “undermining democracy” and those complicit in same.
Family members of complicit persons may also face a similar fate, Wash-ington said, after weeks of warnings to the administration here which continues to cling defiantly to power despite the recount results.
Washington’s declaration in effect means that no matter what happens from this point onwards there would be no recognition for Granger even if he found some way to continue holding on to power. Observers have noted that Washington’s patience and those of its key allies here like Canada and the UK has been exhausted. Eyebrows were raised yesterday that the US would take these measures even while a new elections-related case has landed in the High Court. Observers say Washington has grown tired of the contrived obstacles that have been thrown up to the declaration of the final result including the launching of flimsy court cases. The initiation of another yesterday appeared to be the straw that broke the camel’s back.
Western envoys may have also been infuriated by Granger’s statement on Tuesday that he would abide by the GECOM Chair’s declaration of the result once it was in “keeping with the laws”. This would have been seen as a further shifting of the goalposts when Granger had already committed to accepting the verdict of the recount which showed that the opposition PPP/C had won.
And while visas will be revoked and new applicants rejected in the first instance, the United States will continue to monitor and assess the developments here to determine if to add to the list of persons sanctioned.
“Today, I am announcing visa restrictions on individuals who have been responsible for, or complicit in, undermining democracy in Guyana,” US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo told a State Department press briefing yesterday morning in Washington.
“Immediate family members of such persons may also be subject to these restrictions,” he added.
The Secretary of State’s announcement of pressure on the incumbent government came even as Guy-ana’s caretaker president and former senior army officer dined with his cabinet of de facto ministers, under the Baridi Benab at State House, for a breakfast celebration to mark his 75th birth anniversary.
Following Pompeo’s announcement, the APNU+AFC government released a statement expressing regret at the decision and contending that the government does not interfere in the work of the Guyana Elections Commission or judiciary and that the matter was still before the courts.
“The Executive arm of Government regrets the decision taken by the United States Department of State. The matter affecting the outcome of Guyana’s elections is still before courts, which is entirely the responsibility of the judiciary. No declaration has been made,” the statement said.
Further, it added, “The Executive Branch has not participated in the undermining of the electoral process and urges all countries interested in Guyana’s development to await the logical conclusion of the process which is being managed by the Elections Commission, in accordance with the Constitution of Guyana. The Executive arm has not interfered in the functioning of the Elections Commission.”
The tenor of this statement was in keeping with many from Granger professing adherence to the constitution and the rule of law whereas he is now seen as the prime force behind the denying of the will of the people as expressed on March 2nd.
‘Interference’
The US Embassy yesterday also released a statement from Pompeo where he asserted that the Trump administration’s actions and support here was in no way interference but to make its position pellucid; that it will not tolerate flouting the rule of law and subverting democracy.
“This action is not about interference. It is to send a clear message of the consequences of subverting democracy and the rule of law, which poses a danger to us and our hemispheric partners. We have long said that we have no preference for a winning party, as long as it is selected through a free and fair electoral process that is credible,” Pompeo said.
He noted that since the March 2nd elections, to date there is yet to be a declaration although a recount, sanctioned by government and the opposition, has shown that APNU+AFC lost to the PPP/C.
“All international observers of the vote count agreed that the manner in which votes were tabulated departed from established procedures. They unanimously agreed that a result based on these procedures would not be credible. The Organization of American States and Caribbean Community concluded that the recount of votes, which concluded on June 7 and showed a victory for the opposition, reflected the will of the Guyanese people. Unfortunately, Guyana’s leaders have refused to accept this result,” Pompeo said.
While lamenting the long delay, he stated that the United States stands with the Guyanese people and that there would be consequences for individuals who seek to undermine the people’s choice for their respective leaders. Deflecting from democratic norms, according to Pompeo, poses a danger to not only the country and its citizens but the entire hemisphere.
“The events following the March 2 elections indicate that there are forces that have repeatedly refused to accept the will of the people at the ballot box. Guyana’s non-democratic trajectory is dangerous for its citizens and for the hemisphere as a whole. I hope that Guyana’s leaders understand what is at stake if they continue down this path,” he said.
‘Revoked’
The Stabroek News reached out to the US State Department on the issue and was told that visa records are confidential under US law; thus they are not able to provide details on any individual visa case but explained Pompeo’s position was targeted at persons whose actions were adverse to foreign policy.
The US’ policy for determining complicit persons, according to State department, will apply here to those individuals who have undermined democracy in Guyana. “In general, an individual will be denied if they belong to the class of individuals whose entry the Secretary has determined would have adverse foreign-policy consequences.”
“The visas of individuals who have undermined democracy in Guyana will be revoked…Individuals applying for new visas will be informed of their inability to receive a visa due to this policy,” it added.
When questioned if a list of persons has already been determined, the State Department told this newspaper, “As an initial measure, multiple individuals with prominent roles in subverting electoral proceedings will face visa restrictions. The United States will continue to assess the situation and add others if warranted.”
‘Don’t care’
Stabroek News also reached out to the President’s office and tried contacting several ministers of the APNU+AFC government and government appointed Commissioners of GECOM, for response to the Washington’s statements.
Director of Press Affairs at the Ministry of the Presidency (MoTP), Ariana Gordon, acknowledged receipt of an email sent last evening and said she would be in touch. Up to press time there had not been a reply.
General Secretary of the PNCR, the largest party in the coalition, Amna Ally, said that as of yesterday afternoon she had not been notified of any revocation but she was not bothered if her visa is taken. “Nope!” she said when asked if she had received any correspondence that her visa was or would be revoked.
Ally added that she was not bothered if she is restricted from flying to the US, “I don’t care,” she said.
Leader of the Alliance For Change and de facto Minister of Public Security Khemraj Ramjattan said that he too had not received any correspondence or notice on his visa status. Said Ramjattan “No, I have not.”
He said that he would not be embarrassed or afraid to state if he was notified, and while it is indeed an individual and personal matter, he would tell the Guyanese people if this happens.
Ramjattan, an attorney by profession, pointed to Pompeo’s statement saying that it is targeted to persons undermining the democracy of this country; an act which he totally absolves himself of. “Are you, in asking me, [you’re] saying that you believe I am complicit in undermining democracy? Because I am not,” he contended.
Chairman of the AFC and de facto Minister of Natural Resources Raphael Trotman was, at the time contacted, preparing to lay his mother, well known attorney Sheila Chapman, to rest today and said that was all he was focussed on.
Calls to a number of other ministers went unanswered, such as, de facto Ministers of Foreign Affairs, Dr Karen Cummings; Health, Volda Lawrence; Finance, Winston Jordan; and Public Telecommunication, Catherine Hughes and Public Infrastructure, David Patterson among others.
For the Guyana Elections Commission, only Commissioner Vincent Alexander responded and he said that he had not received notice.
While he did not name anyone, Pompeo had noted that votes which had been first tabulated were outside of established procedures and had been stated as so by local and international observers of the March 2nd elections.
Returning Officer for Region 4 Clairmont Mingo, had on March 5, declared results using doctored numbers purportedly sourced from Statements of Polls (SOPs). This had been rejected by observers and was the basis for the 33-day recount, which took place under the watch of an agreed upon CARICOM observer team.
The results of the recount showed that the opposition People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) secured 233,336 votes compared to the incumbent APNU+AFC coalition’s 217,920.
And while not naming Chief Election Officer Keith Lowenfield, the Organization of American States last week 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.”
“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.
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.
Lowenfield has submitted three different results to date.
