Diplomatic community expresses regret over absence of foreign observers

…full transparency vital to credibility – Commonwealth SG

The diplomatic community has welcomed the start of the National Recount, which commenced on Wednesday. However, in commending the participation of the Caribbean Community (Caricom), the diplomats have expressed regret over the absence of international observers.

On Wednesday, when the recount commenced, only representatives from the European Union (EU), a local observer from the Organisation of American States (OAS) and Caricom observers were noted to be present at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre. In a public missive, the Ambassador of the United States of America, Sarah-Ann Lynch; the British High Commissioner, Greg Quinn; Canadian High Commissioner Lilian Chatterjee, and the Ambassador of the European Union, Fernando Ponz-Canto, stated that they welcome the recount process.
According to the diplomats, “The results of these elections are long overdue, and it is incumbent on all to do what they can to ensure the democratic choice of the people is heard and acted upon.”

In emphasising that full transparency of the process is vital to establishing credibility, the ambassadors stated, “In this respect, we welcome the role of the Caribbean Community (Caricom) although we regret that it has not been possible for a broader range of international observers to be present at the start of the process.” In view of this, they urged that livestreaming be used “to the maximum extent possible.”
“As friends of Guyana we encourage a swift, credible, and transparent conclusion to the recount process, which will allow us all to concentrate both on the threat posed by COVID-19 and the development needs of Guyana,” the foreign officials stated.
These concerns come against the backdrop of the Carter Center being denied approval to travel to Guyana to participate in the recount. The democracy watchdog had expressed hope to be there, and had attempted to travel to Guyana to observe the recount. However, despite still being accredited, their entry request to the COVID-19 Task Force, which is headed by Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo and APNU’s Joseph Harmon, was denied.
The Center was among the foreign observers who were very vocal on the lack of credibility of the declaration that was made by the Returning Officer for Region Four, Clairmont Mingo. Mingo’s unverified declaration would have placed the incumbent APNU/AFC back in office.
On Monday, the Center revealed that it had deployed an Observer to Miami, who was prepared to travel to Georgetown to observe the National Recount. However, that individual was unsuccessful in joining the flight due to the denial of the necessary clearance for travel from the officials from Guyana. The special flight was organised by the United States Embassy in Georgetown to come here to repatriate citizens of that country who wanted to return home. The democracy watchdog group had expressed that they continued to reach out to Guyana Government officials to understand what is required to allow their team to return to Guyana to observe the recount process. However, to date, there has been no word on any progress in getting the requisite approval.
The GECOM Chairperson, retired Justice Claudette Singh, had committed to making queries from the COVID-19 Task Force in this regard, but there has been no report as to whether this was done.

Credibility
Meanwhile, Commonwealth Secretary General Baroness Patricia Scotland has welcomed the commencement of the recount of votes cast in the March 2 polls, saying that full transparency and adherence to the rule of law are vital to the credibility of the electoral process in Guyana.
“I welcome the commencement of the recount process in Guyana today. Full transparency and adherence to the rule of law is vital to the credibility of the electoral process,” she said on her twitter feed.
Scotland said the Commonwealth continues to support the process through its Senior Electoral Adviser to the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM).
The Commonwealth mission, which was deployed by the Commonwealth Secretary General to observe the March 2 polls, had withdrawn from the process over allegations of electoral fraud.
In particular, the Observer Group had stated that the vote tabulation process for District Four was “not credible”.