Deliberate invalidation of votes violated Constitution – GCCI warns Lowenfield

Embattled Chief Elections Officer, Keith Lowenfield continues to come under fire over his fraudulent elections report in which he invalidated over 115,000 votes, with the Georgetown Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI) joining calls for him to withdraw the document.

GCCI President Nicholas Deygoo-Boyer

In a letter to Lowenfield on Saturday, GCCI President Nicholas Deygoo-Boyer said “Mr Lowenfield, your actions have violated Sections of the Constitution in a deliberate overt act to overthrow the core principle of the sovereignty of the people and the electoral system of Proportional Representation. Your reports seek to install a Government that has not been democratically elected by the will of the people.”
The recently concluded National Recount shows a landslide victory for the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) with some 15,416 more votes than the caretaker APNU/AFC coalition. As such, the CEO was instructed by the Chair of the Guyana Elections Commission, Retired Justice Claudette Singh, to compile his final report using the recount figures.

Chief Elections Officer Keith Lowenfield

Instead, he invalidated over 115,000 votes to give the APNU/AFC a win with 171,825 votes while the PPP/C was given 166,343 votes. The recount exercise, which was certified by not only by GECOM but a Caricom team as well as other local and international observer groups, put the PPP/C in the lead with 233,336 votes while the APNU/AFC got 217,920.
Despite facing backlash from numerous credible local and international organisations, Lowenfield on Friday defended his move to invalidate over 115,000 votes, claiming he acted constitutionally.
However, Boyer in his letter pointed the CEO to Section 177 (b) of the Constitution at the third and fourth paragraphs which say, “We, The Guyanese People,…Forge a system of governance that promotes concerted efforts and broad-based participation in national decision-making in order to develop a viable economy and a harmonious community based on democratic values, social justice, fundamental rights and the rule of law.”
Further Section 9 reads, “Sovereignty belongs to the people, who exercise it through their representatives and the democratic organs established by or under this Constitution.”
According to the GCCI President, Lowenfield has violated these Sections by taking away the rights, afforded under Section 160 (b) to all citizens, especially those 115,000-plus persons who have been disenfranchised by him.
Boyer informed the Chief Elections Officer that the repercussions of his actions will be severe for all businesses in Guyana, the entire economy and social wellbeing for the country’s collective future.
He further noted that Lowenfield’s actions can be “construed as treasonous” under Section 318 of Chapter 8:01 The Criminal Law (Offences) Act, which states that “Any person owing allegiance to the State who, whether in Guyana or elsewhere – (a) forms an intention to levy war against the State or to overthrow the Government or the Constitution of Guyana by force and manifests such intention by any over act;” would have committed treason.
“Despite all the forgoing Mr Lowenfield, you may be presented with one final opportunity to redeem yourself. If the Caribbean Court of Justice overrules our local Court of Appeal’s ruling, and you withdraw your report, then you should submit the correct report, which is in keeping with the will of the people. The treasonous one you have submitted, if it is allowed to stand, shall have one of the most lasting negative impacts on our society and future generations, as well as your legacy,” Boyer stated in the letter.
The GCCI President went on to say that given all the rhetoric from the international community, most of whom have stopped using diplomatic nuances and instead are being forthright, there is little probability that Lowenfield’s treasonous action will be successful.
“Rest assured that when all of this comes to an inglorious end, you will face the consequences of the law if you dig your heels in to plunge off a cliff with our country in tow; instead you can change course and do the right thing to let our nation move forward with a genuinely “credible” election cycle and heal,” the GCCI President posited.