5 more days, over 1000 ballot boxes still to be counted

…GCCI joins calls for GECOM to add more workstations

Slothful actions to deliver the recount within a ‘reasonable’ timeframe has led the Georgetown Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI) to join calls for the Guyana Elections Commission to employ additional workstations.

The GCCI, an accredited local observer during the March elections, on Monday expressed concern over the pace at which the recount is going and further said the additional workstations, especially for Region Four (Demerara-Mahaica), would allow for the process to be expedited.
Region Four is known to be the largest of the ten districts, with 879 ballot boxes to be counted. Presently, less than 50 per cent of this number has been completed.
The Chamber stated, “The GCCI’s main concern is the speed at which the District 4 count is proceeding…completed, even though District 4 was allocated 3 stations from the start of the recount. The GCCI is of the opinion that additional stations to the existing 12 should be put in place and these stations should be entirely devoted to District Four. District Four is the most populous electoral district and will require more resources in order to be completed within a reasonable timeframe.”
With regards to the process, the Private Sector body expressed that it is proceeding smoothly at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre (ACCC) but promised to deliver a preliminary observation report for the public to understand their ‘advocacy’ position.
On Thursday, GECOM recounted 88 ballot boxes. By Sunday, however, that number dropped dramatically to 75. Recounts have completed for Regions One (Barima-Waini), Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam) and Five (Mahaica-Berbice).
The count is currently ongoing for Regions Three (Essequibo Islands-West Demerara), Four (Demerara-Mahaica), Six (East Berbice-Corentyne), Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni), Eight (Potaro-Siparuni) and Nine (Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo) while Region 10 (Upper Demerara-Berbice) is yet to commence.
As such, former Attorney General Anil Nandlall labelled the situation as pathetic during a media engagement on Sunday. He too was critical of the slow pace of the recount and the fact that GECOM has neither implemented new counting stations nor approved any of the PPP recommendations to speed up the process.
If the slow pace of the recount continues, there could also be implications for the three-member Caribbean Community (Caricom) team currently observing the recount. Nandlall pointed out that they cannot stay in Guyana indefinitely.
Nevertheless, he had asserted that the PPP would continue to make efforts to have the recount sped up. He noted that they intend to approach GECOM Chair, Retired Justice Claudette Singh in order to hold her to her promise of establishing more stations.