Dear Editor,
There is no reason why we can’t have a declaration tomorrow. All the Chairwoman needs to do is reconvene the meeting and let the CEO submit a report that reflects the recount data. Since the meeting was quorate, even if the three Commissioners from APNU/AFC stay away, the meeting can still go on. The non-submission of the report by the CEO is sufficient grounds for his immediate replacement. But this will not happen, which is sad because many institutions are running out of funds while we relitigate matters determined by the apex court, the CCJ.
In any sane society where citizens’ well-being is essential, these elections would have been over since the controversy raised its ugly head. The SoPs should have been published and then a declaration made, just like in 2015.
Why the new approach? The answers will come out once the CCJ decides the latest legal battle. It is a straightforward matter, and I believe the CCJ will dispatch same with the most considerable speed. Hopefully, this time our apex court issue coercive orders, if an application is requested correctly. In two prior cases, the CCJ was prevented from doing so because of the appeal’s nature. However, I believe that given the collective wisdom of the Judges of the CCJ, and in the interest of the public, this court will overcome this difficultly using some legal mechanism. For more than a year, Guyana has been operating without a Parliament, budget, and legitimate Government. The President of the CCJ made this point in his ruling.
I call on all Guyanese to remain calm and patient. Don’t lose faith. We are almost at the end of the emotionally painful journey. The two good takeaways from the court ruling today that should inspire patience is that it endorses the position of the CCJ, ie, the Recount has overtaken the ten (10) declarations by the Returning Officers (ROs), and the Chairwoman has powers to instruct the CEO who is not a law unto himself. More importantly, these declarations were lawfully set aside by GECOM and cannot be resurrected.
With regards,
S Pasha
