President David Granger has reverted to stating that he will accept any declaration made by the Chair of the Guyana Elections Commission.
Speaking with media at the opening of the Centre for Disease Control and Prevention at Liliendaal, Granger said that his statement on compliance with a declaration was never conditional.
“I didn’t say if the rain is falling or the sun is shining, if it comes by day or night. I am obliged to the declaration of the chairman of GECOM…over the last 20 months I’ve insisted that once the Chair of GECOM makes a declaration, I will comply with that,” he said.
While Granger had previously maintained that he will accept any declaration, in early July he began to add a qualifier to the comment.
A statement from the Ministry of the Presidency dated July 14 said that Granger “would abide by any declaration that the Chair makes in keeping with the laws of Guyana.”
This caveat of “in keeping with the laws of Guyana” was added on the same day that a third legal challenge was filed to block a declaration from the Commission. This challenge filed by Misenga Jones, a poll day agent for the incumbent, was yesterday dismissed on appeal.
According to Granger this does not change the meaning of his pronouncements.
“What I have insisted on is credibility. Other people have been making calls, but I know what I have said. I said that I’m interested in having as early as possible a declaration by the chairman of GECOM. I don’t run an election, the chairman and the six commissioners will determine the outcome of this process,” he said before reiterating he cannot concede because no declaration has been made.
“I pay attention to what the popular media says but as far as the groundswell is concerned everybody knows that over the past 20 months I have been saying over and over again that I will abide by the declaration by the GECOM and the ruling of the court,” he added.
The Court ruled yesterday that the results of the recount which shows that Granger lost the elections should be used to declare results.
The Court also ruled that the issues raised had already been adjudicated while attorney for the Chair, Kim Kyte-Thomas argued that the entire application was vexatious.
“People can rightfully challenge a ruling once they disagree with it but once the court has finally ruled then we will obey the rule of the court. So the groundswell is not a legitimate statement of what the law or the constitution calls for. I follow the constitution and what the courts have said and I await a decision of the commission,” Granger maintained.
