No group’s impatience must take precedence over credible elections

Dear Editor,

Another stage in the saga of Guyana’s elections continues, where the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) is now preparing to navigate the logistical nightmare of a National Recount under extreme pressure, and in the middle of a global pandemic that has seen Guyanese deaths and threatens the life and wellbeing of all.

This stage of the saga resulted after GECOM Chair Justice Claudette Singh SC asserted her right to permit a recount of (ballots) to ensure fairness and impartiality of the process. This was deemed lawful by the Appellate Court ruling, that the Commission is entitled to take such action providing it does not extend its authority in the process of so doing.

This was with particular reference to CARICOM “supervising” an agreed recount signed for by President David Granger and Mr. Bharrat Jagdeo, Leader of the PPP List of Representatives, after the declaration of the Region Four results.
In a release, Justice Claudette Singh said, “My commitment has now been bolstered, by a request made by His Excellency President David Granger, and to which the Leader of the Opposition Mr. Bharrat Jagdeo has approved, to have the Chairperson of CARICOM field an independent high-level team to supervise the recount of the ballots for Districts One to District Ten” (Guyana Chronicle, March 15th).

In fulfillment of a “lawful” recount, the Chief Elections Officer, Keith Lowenfield, mandated to provide a plan, has submitted details of a proposed work plan with a 156 days’ timeline for completion. The timeline for this has been immediately challenged by the Opposition Commissioners, thereby setting the public tone of its surrogates, despite a decision taken for said plan to be discussed at a meeting the next day, Thursday 9th April 2020.

The work plan, according to GECOM secretariat, estimates a projected time for each box (containing approximately 400 votes each) will take “two hours, utilizing three workstations for 10 hours per day (9:00hrs -19:00hrs) at a central location to count 2,339 boxes.”

The plan by the CEO seems geared towards ensuring that at the end of the process, even during the process, the risk of dissatisfaction does not arise; that the process is transparent and without justifiable reasons for any party to cry foul, either during its execution or after.

The plan recognises the importance and value of the process beyond a simple recount of votes cast, as the Opposition is setting public opinion to focus on. A simple recount throwing out the ballots and counting Regions One to Ten will not suffice for a resolution. We must see the plan consistent with the spirit and intent of arriving at an acceptable resolution of all unsatisfactory contentions surrounding the count and declaration. The Commissioners must take note.

No group’s impatience must take precedence over credible elections. It must be fully deliberated on and carefully considered (without prejudice) if Justice Claudette Singh and all parties are truly seeking a resolution and not a continuation of chaos, with one party pushing all the buttons and having its own way at the expense of the nation.

We have this opportunity to restore credibility in GECOM and to move Guyana forward. It must not be sacrificed because of the impatience of any group. The stakes are too high.

Lincoln Lewis