Dear Editor,
I write to express my alarm over an article published in the Guyana Chronicle newspaper dated Friday 20th December 2024 which cites a statement by a named witness in a case before the High Court to the effect that: Former President David Granger…hosted a celebratory gathering near the 704 Sports Bar, Club, and Sky Lounge on Lamaha Street in Georgetown, even though the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) had not yet declared the election results…“Between the second and the sixth, he [Granger] had a victory party opposite 704,” Singh recounted, adding: “So, yes, he refused to give up power. I remember him declaring victory.”
I affirm that I have never ‘declared victory’ in the General and Regional Elections 2020 and I never hosted a victory party. I wish to point out that the APNU+AFC’ Coalition’s campaign headquarters was located on Lamaha St. and the witness might have mistakenly assumed that the persons who had assembled there to await the elections results were at a victory party.
I wish to point out, further, that the Guyana Chronicle newspapers published the following actual contemporary statements:
Guyana Chronicle, March 5, 2020. The President said it is “quite impossible” to make any announcement of results because “nobody” knows the final score.
Guyana Chronicle, March 7, 2020. The President said in clear terms…“We are awaiting the final declaration from GECOM.” “I cannot make a declaration tonight (Wednesday) because the elections commission itself has not received all of the declarations from returning officers.”
Guyana Chronicle, March 9, 2020. President David Granger… reminded that the Elections Commission is an independent and Constitutional body. He assured the observer mission that, like all of Guyana, he is awaiting…the declaration by the Elections Commission. President Granger said too that it would be improper and unlawful for him to interfere in the work of the Commission.
Several other articles were published in the 2020 newspapers that contradict the allegation that ‘I declared victory’. I have demanded an unqualified retraction of the untruthful remarks.
Yours respectfully,
David Granger,
Former President
