GECOM is fully aware of what world expects – President-elect

The Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) is not acting in isolation, it is fully aware of the expectations of the Caricom Region and the entire world, as it relates to the electoral body carrying out its mandate in a credible manner, and in keeping with the constitutional requirements in bringing the electoral process to an end.

This is according to President-elect, Dr Irfaan Ali, who, during an interview with Fazeer Mohamed of Trinidad’s CCN 6 Television, explained the next statutory steps that GECOM was expected to follow that would see the conclusion of the 2020 electoral process, almost four months after citizens voted.

“The Caricom report was very stern …they used the words “unshakeable belief” that the recount was a demonstration of the will of the people…so it’s not that they (GECOM) are acting in isolation, they have a full understanding of what the world is thinking.
“Every single organisation has spoken out and made it very clear that the recount was transparent and credible, and the recount results demonstrate the will of the people,” Ali told viewers.
GECOM Chairperson, Retired Justice Claudette Singh on Tuesday directed the CEO to prepare his final report, pursuant to Article 177 (2) (b) of the Constitution and Section 96 of the Representation of the People Act, and in accordance with the numbers emanating from the recently-concluded national recount.
Those numbers show the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) winning the elections by over 15,000 votes and effectively ousting the A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC) coalition from the seat of power.
Lowenfield’s report was due Thursday afternoon and legal experts have argued that, contrary to what is being touted by elements within the APNU/AFC coalition, he (Lowenfield) has no authority to “willy-nilly” determine the validity of votes cast in the elections, rather he should be guided by the prescribed laws.
Earlier on Thursday, the PPP/C warned that Lowenfield could face severe penalties, including being jailed for life, if he persisted in including erroneous numbers in his report, since this would amount to “conspiracy to commit electoral fraud”.
“Any report prepared without using the totals of the valid votes cast, which he has already submitted to the Commission, would amount to a conspiracy to commit electoral fraud at Common Law, a most grievous offence, which can attract a severe a penalty as life imprisonment. Those who are in the conspiracy with him are exposed to the same criminal liabilities,” the PPP/C, said via a press release issued Thursday morning.
Notwithstanding, Dr Ali explained that if Lowenfield decided to act outside of the Constitution and outside the Commission’s instructions, then the Commission has the power to “take action and make decisions as to what they do in relation to Mr Lowenfield and in relation to moving the process forward”.
“So, although we have seen a manipulation of the system itself, we are hoping that the CEO of GECOM would act in a manner in which it is befitting to his office and have the final report presented,” Dr Ali said.
Dr Ali also cited Article 177 (2) B of the Constitution which says that the candidate who heads the list with the most votes is “deemed” the President and shall be so declared by the Chairman of GECOM.
He said his Party is hopeful that GECOM would do “the right thing”, and then steps would be taken to have the President sworn in immediately.