Even after the court had given its decisions, paving the way for the elections recount to move ahead, the drama continues at the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM), with certain elements hell-bent on seeing the process being further delayed. There seems to be no hurry on the part of the Government-appointed commissioners and other top Secretariat staff, including Chief Elections Officer Keith Lowenfield, to get the elections’ process done with, so as to allow the country to move forward.
In a shocking, perhaps even disrespectful move, Lowenfield, who was tasked with coming up with a plan for the Commission’s approval, had provided a draft proposal for the national recount to be done in a whopping 156 days. As expected, this was out-rightly rejected by many stakeholders, as it was seen as deliberately frustrating and delaying the recount process and handing a further six months to the APNU/AFC Government, which already has a cloud hanging over its head concerning its legitimacy.
After a firestorm of criticisms, Lowenfield was ordered to return to the drawing board and revise his proposal. It should be mentioned that the Opposition-nominated Commissioners had also submitted their own proposal, which caters for the utilisation of more work stations and more working hours – which would result in the process being completed in far less days than Lowenfield’s plan envisages.
The Commission is expected to meet again today (Wednesday) after Tuesday’s meeting did not result in a final recount plan. Lowenfield is now expected to present a final document, which would also take into consideration the proposals submitted by the Opposition-nominated commissioners.
However, one would not be surprised if there are other attempts made at stymieing the process today. The nation has now become used to this level of brinkmanship and pettiness at GECOM. An elections recount, which in the normal course of events should have been a straightforward process and been completed within days, is now being dragged on unnecessarily while the entire nation awaits.
Of note, too, is that over the past few days, we have seen the narrative shifting from the need to have a credible elections recount to an “audit” instead. In fact, Government-aligned Commissioner Vincent Alexander has been at the forefront in pushing for an audit, which we all know is not catered for in law, and would only seek to further delay the declaration of the elections’ results, which have already been delayed for close to six weeks.
When the matter regarding the elections’ recount first surfaced, it was meant to do just that — a recount of the votes. No one ever called for an audit; it was the understanding of all the stakeholders, including the court, the international community and observers, that a recount of the votes was needed in order to arrive at credible elections’ results, which would be accepted by all parties and which could stand scrutiny of the international community and international observers.
For Commissioner Alexander to now peddle the line of having an “audit” — whatever that means to him — is unacceptable, and perhaps even dangerous. Legal minds have pointed to the fact that there must be careful consideration of how the recount process moves forward, as there must be no base to create the platform for legal challenges to be mounted against the recount.
As we understand it to be, a recount is a legal process, and cannot be the subject of political compromise. The law must be followed as closely as possible.
That said, GECOM Chairperson, Justice (rtd) Claudette Singh, must take control of the situation immediately and ensure that all attempts to stall the recount are shut down immediately. Not only must she ensure the recount is started with haste, but she must also personally take all necessary steps to ensure the process is transparent and fair.
We had suggested that the exercise be streamed live on television for everyone to see, as this would add credibility to the process. We restate this call with the hope that the Chairperson would give it serious consideration. Nothing must be left to chance, which would see a repeat of what unfolded at the GECOM Command Centre, and later at the GECOM Head Office in Kingston in relation to the District 4 results.
Justice Singh cannot be oblivious to mounting calls from all quarters for her to take full control of the situation and act in the national interest. It is only she who can stop this madness. The nation expects nothing less of her.
