Granger, stop pushing the rules of law to the limit

Dear Editor,
Guyanese, the false tabulation of the votes of the March 2 elections, and the manoeuvrings that followed have shown little regard for the adherence to democracy. Free and fair elections have been on trial in Guyana for more than one hundred and twenty days, four months. Some officers of the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) have been proven in a recount of all the votes that started on May 6, for thirty-three days, to have manipulated poll results to increase ballots for the APNU/AFC party of President Granger significantly, and to reduce votes for People’s Progressive Party drastically, the recount, scrutineered by agents of Caricom and observed by representatives of the OAS and local groups, this elongated and painful process has seen the PNCR-dominated APNU/AFC party, making every effort to derail the recount process. However, at the end of the recount, the trial of democracy had heightened as the recounted votes show that PNCR bullies, APNU/AFC, has clearly lost the elections, hence its officials and leaders were reported to be demanding that the entire General Election should be voided. The basis for that alarming demand was an unsubstantiated allegation that dead or absent persons voted in the election. Curiously, this ominous statement had come after the APNU/AFC leadership had earlier declared – along with all the observer missions – that the voting, at which every party had agents present, was free and fair.
In the wake of intense pressure from the international and local community for President David Granger to concede his defeat at the March 2, 2020 polls, sections of his A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC) coalition party have signalled a blatant determination not to give up, the USA Senators in one of their many statements said it was “unacceptable” that nearly four months since their National Election, the Guyanese people are still waiting for an official result following the General and Regional Elections. Recent reports suggest questionable manoeuvres by interested parties designed to continue forestalling a final declaration of results, which members of the press say indicates a defeat for the incumbent APNU/AFC Government. President Granger should honour the will of the Guyanese people and concede, they added, while extending their support and solidarity to the people of Guyana. For the sake of the people, the future of democracy and the rule of law in Guyana by using various ploys and tactics to gain a psychological advantage over their supporters, the primary exercises in propaganda is the daily norm of team David Granger, the ongoing uncertainty in Guyana must end. Team Granger and his conies’ use of dubious methods to win or gain a serious advantage in the election will not happen, the time for that has already gone. APNU/AFC has lost these elections. It is posted on every light post in Guyana and around the world. Granger, stop pushing the rules to the limit, you are already caught trying to use whatever dubious method possible to achieve the desired end. Another APNU/AFC Administration will not get the opportunity to bankrupt Guyana again. The PNC, PNCR – APNU/AFC is in the bankrupting business. Mr David Granger, please honour the will of the Guyanese people, take your defeat like a man and concede. You like everyone else had confidence in these elections as a political concept, we are fully aware that elections are not an end in themselves, their purpose is to ascertain the will of the people regarding their Government. They are processes to confer legitimacy to govern, and to peacefully resolve political competition. A genuine election is ultimately one in which the outcome reflects the freely expressed choices of the people. An election is “an easy contest” where the party that gets the most votes must be declared the winner. It was established through the recount process that the People’s Progressive Party received the most valid votes and as such must be declared the winner.
Whether an election and its outcomes enjoy credibility in the eyes of the country’s citizens – whether it has achieved its function of giving voice to the will of the people – will depend on the extent to which the democratic principles of universal suffrage and political equality, as well as other international obligations, are respected, and on the extent to which the election is professional, impartial, accurate and transparent in all stages of its Administration. David Granger’s mouthpiece, Mr Joseph Harmon, kept rambling that David Granger has no intention of conceding. His direct and own words were “Concede to what? Concede to whom? What is he to concede to? It appears to me and I would venture to say any right-thinking person, to be a most ridiculous and nonsensical proposition… for the persons who are calling for Granger to concede, that is not going to happen”.
The question now arises about what will happen on Wednesday, July 1, 2020, when the Caribbean Court of Justice hears the case of Guyana’s Opposition Leader, Bharrat Jagdeo, and Dr Irfaan Ali, the PPP/C Presidential Candidate, who filed a Notice of Motion before the CCJ for several reliefs, including an interpretation of the words “more votes are cast” in Article 177(2) (b) of the Constitution of Guyana. It is clear to all what Harmon had intended to say, that the APNU/AFC cares about the billions of dollars in oil money and cares less about the will of the Guyanese people.

Sincerely,
David Adams