It’s back to 156 days

Dear Editor,

Like most Guyanese, here and in the Diaspora, and in fact others in the interested global community, we waited with bated breaths for the decision by the Chairperson of GECOM, Justice (Ret’d) Claudette Singh, regarding the “recount” of the votes for the March 2nd elections.

Alas, when her decision became public, depending on which side of the democratic divide one stood, there was shock and disappointment on one side and celebration on the other.
The first group was hoping that the urgency for the finalization of this matter would have been recognized by the Chairperson and her decision would have been based thereon.
However, that was not realized and the lady once again showed her true colors and shamelessly identified which camp she was comfortably “at home” with.

By referring to and by implication allowing Moses Nagamootoo to give his opinion as representing the COVID-19 task force, it is obvious to me as night follows day, that this is another well-thought out “plan” to further delay the duration of the recount.

I am willing to wager, at any odds, that Nagamootoo would respond that there should be three counting stations, which would bring us right back to the 156 as proposed by the now discredited Chief Elections Officer.
This position is further confirmed by the chairperson not saying not less than 10 stations but instead saying, not more than 10, which leaves the door open to have any number from one to 10.

Why couldn’t she make a compromise between the PPP’s and the PNC’s proposals and arrive at around 15 stations?
Wouldn’t that have been a more reasonable decision, instead of agreeing almost entirely to the PNC’s proposals, quoting security concerns and all counting to be done in the building?

Why couldn’t other venues be considered? Isn’t Queen’s College capable of accommodating at least another 10 counting stations? And all inside the building?
I can name other venues that could have been utilized, but what’s the use?

The geniuses in GECOM’s Secretariat, aided by four members of the Commission, know much better than anyone else. Only those blinded by greed and fear would not want to concede the inevitable that the coalition lost the elections, and intend to bully their way to remain in government.

Isn’t a final decision to depend on Nagamootoo’s response a conflict of interest?
Isn’t it obvious to all that he and his comrades want to cling on to power as long as the rope allows them?
Isn’t this coinciding with the propaganda blitz (to spread misinformation) being attempted with the hiring of a lobbying group in Washington? Interestingly, there is now a “bizarre twist” and now obviously confusion in the camp, as Harmon and Granger have issued contradictory positions on this controversial matter.

In the meantime, the CDC has suspended its distribution of relief to a few vulnerables in some communities.
My information is that the PPP/C has been continuously distributing essential food items in neglected areas, far much more than the government’s half-hearted efforts.

The true results of the elections must be declared immediately, so that the new government can address the COVID -19 pandemic, and the associated suffering of the people of Guyana, in a non-discriminatory manner.
My opinion is that sanctions threatened must begin to be imposed, immediately, on individuals involved in attempting to deny the Guyanese people their right of a government of their choice.

Only then would those who continue to administer the affairs of this country, would recognize the seriousness of their undemocratic actions.

H. N. Nawbatt