Future elections in jeopardy if current battle to get vote count right is not won – Jagdeo

Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo Thursday warned that future free and fair elections in Guyana could be jeopardised if the process for the March 02 vote is not completed in a transparent and credible manner.

“If we don’t succeed here, you can’t have free and fair elections in Guyana. If they could rig the elections in front of the eyes of the entire international community, then there is no hope for this country unless we succeed here,” Jagdeo told a news conference at the PPP’s Headquarters on Robb Street Georgetown Thursday.

The results from the elections continue to be marred in controversy since the declaration of votes in Guyana’s largest voting district – Region Four – was deemed to be fraudulent by opposition parties, international elections observers and foreign powers here.

At the invitation of incumbent President, David Granger, a five-member high-level team from CARICOM arrived early Sunday last to supervise the national recount but had to leave three days later after one of Granger’s party candidates moved to the court and was granted an injunction to block the recount.

This was despite the fact that Chair of the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM), Justice (Rt’d) Claudette Singh gave a commitment to the Chief Justice (ag) Roxane George for the recount to be done.

“Claudette Singh gave an undertaking to the court to do a recount of Region Four. She has to now tell the country how she intends to have that undertaking be done and that is key now. Claudette Singh needs to tell the country how she intends to pursue and give effect to the undertaking in court.

“What you’ve seen, witnessed here in Guyana is the biggest act of thievery and attempt to steal the election before the eyes of the world,” Jagdeo said.

The case blocking the recount is slated for Friday, March 20 at 09:00hrs before High Court Judge Franklyn Holder.

Meanwhile, Jagdeo noted that if the court does not discharge the case and Granger is sworn in as President, then the PPP will lobby the international community to impose sanctions against Guyana.

“If Granger is sworn in, the PPP will not recognize him. We will expect and we will call for and already we’re being told, there will be serious international sanctions on Granger, the Cabal and even the country.

“Now that will create hardships for lots of people but it will make it very uncomfortable for the cabal, the same ones who are hell-bent on swearing in a President on the basis of these fraudulent results.”

Jagdeo said the PPP will ask the World Bank, the International Development Bank (IDB) and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to “shut down” all disbursements to Guyana.