Guyana closer to election declaration

GUYANA took one more step, on Tuesday, towards the declaration of results in its March 2 regional and general elections. That declaration would clear the way for People's Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) presidential candidate Irfaan Ali to be declared as Guyana's next president.

In a statement issued by the Guyana Election Commission (GECOM), there were considerable deliberations by GECOM on a report submitted by Chief Election Officer Keith Lowenfield about the national recount of votes in the elections.

After those discussions, GECOM said commission chairman Claudette Singh requested Lowenfield prepare a report to ascertain the results of the elections under Section 96 of the Representation of the People Act and in keeping with Order No 60 of 2020 and its addendum dated May 29, 2020.

In her decision on Tuesday, Singh said the commission does not have "the powers of a court of law to examine and re-examine witnesses or to procure official documents to determine the truth of the allegations contained therein."

Singh said some of the allegations are of a serious nature and must be addressed.

Singh observed that Article 163 (1) (b) of the Guyana's constitution gives the High Court the exclusive jurisdiction to determine the validity of an election.

She explained that in order to give itself the authority to conduct the national recount, GECOM resorted to Article 162 (1) (b) of the constitution "to take such action as appears necessary or expedient to ensure impartiality and fairness."

In a statement, the PPP/C welcomed GECOM's decision to direct Lowenfield to prepare a report based on the national recount. The PPP/C commended Singh, congratulated Ali as president-elect and awaited his swearing in.

According to a Guyana Newsroom report, once Lowenfield presents his report, Singh has three days within which to make the official declaration.

Concerns have been raised inside and outside of Guyana about no winner being declared in the elections which were held three months ago.

Concerns were raised after votes in the Demerara-Mahaica region seemed to overturn results in the elections in favour of the APNU/AFC.

An Associated Press report on June 1, said the APNU/AFC accused the PPP/C of electoral fraud and said it would go to court to prevent GECOM from declaring a winner. The PPP/C has rejected the fraud allegations and said Ali should be sworn in as president while the court resolves any alleged irregularities.