GECOM debunks fake letter

THE Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) has debunked a letter circulating on social media which claimed that Chief Elections Officer (CEO), Keith Lowenfield has pinpointed police officers as being involved in electoral fraud.

The letter falsely claimed that Lowenfield wrote the commissioner of police, stating that a number of police officers worked along with the APNU+AFC coalition to “inject” ballots into boxes and this was witnessed by several observer missions.

However, on Sunday, GECOM Public Relations Officer (PRO) Yolanda Ward informed the media that the letter is counterfeit and does not reflect true correspondence between the CEO and the commissioner of police.

A release from the commission later stated that the GECOM secretariat has noted with concern the contents of the fake letter.

“The document which is being circulated on social media is bogus and tantamount to forgery, since the use of CEO’s letterhead and signature may have been copied from another letter and used by the author to create
mischief and cause confusion. In this regard, persons are urged to desist from such illegal and mischievous actions,” the release stated.

This is not the first time that persons have sought to impersonate members of the elections commission for political gain.

On June 1, GECOM Chair Justice (Ret’d) Claudette Singh noted with disgust a widely circulated letter which used her letterhead, signature and office stamp to show fake correspondence between her and the police commissioner.

Back in March 2020, GECOM also condemned a “malicious” attempt to accuse its staff, Personal Assistant to the CEO, Duarte Hetsberger, of destroying electoral information in relation to the contested Region Four results. This was after an email purporting to be sent by him was circulated.

The commission has reminded persons to be vigilant and not to allow the misinformation peddled by a malicious few to cause distraction and chaos.