Let’s have a transparent recount once and for all!

Dear Editor,
There is a sense of militant optimism as the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM), finally heads towards the inevitable commencement of the recount of the votes cast on the March 2, 2020 General and Regional Elections. While the exact commencement date is still unknown more than eight weeks following the elections, the conjured-up work plan for the process outlines the need for magnification of every aspect of the surreptitious undemocratic schemes.
Our citizens and the international community have become weary of the sustained attempts to design and craft stealthy conjuring mechanisms that may still advance the exposed dirty cheating at the hands of the PNC/APNU/AFC and GECOM corrupted agents. So glaring is the obvious stealing roles and activities by high-ranking GECOM administrators that insulted Guyanese and affected parties can no longer trust the organisation given their faulty sleight of hands approach and decayed level of transparency.
Following these recounts, the Guyanese people will be indeed eternally grateful for the support and firm stand taken by our international partners in support of the will of our people. Particularly, the diplomatic envoys of the United States of America; the European Union; the United Kingdom; Canada; the Commonwealth and our Caricom partners have jointly stood tall in insisting fairness and upholding democratic principles.
Equally appreciated is the applaudable manner in which many international and local NGOs together with the local Private Sector, religious and observer groups have risen to the occasion of rejecting the looming dictatorship elephant in the room. The recent call by the Private Sector organisations for the live streaming of the process lends substantively to the reasonable request of making the process credible and transparent.
Whether pushed or through a rational review process, it is welcoming to observe that GECOM Chairwoman, Retired Justice Claudette Singh has indicated a willingness to review previous shameless subterfuge regarding now necessary live streaming of the process. This is given the lost confidence and stained credentials caused by its leading tarnished and cheating staff members, as well as the widespread local and international condemnation facing GECOM and the PNC conspirators.
Although GECOM can determine its procedures, delivering credible results in the shortest possible time is the sole responsibility of the organisation, which has failed miserably in this respect. The Chairwoman should also swiftly re-look some of the many areas of review that will lead to a simplification of the process and easily achieve a fair outcome, without the complications advocated by Vincent Alexander’s cabal. Among these is the need to use all teams to count one region at a time in chronological sequence and produce the results for that region.
The time stymieing extravagance of disappointing accommodated Chairwoman, Retired Justice Claudette Singh has resulted in delays and overwhelming illegal extension of Mr Granger. However, all should recognise by now that no effort will be spared in ensuring the integrity of the ballot boxes by the PPP/C representatives at the recount time. GECOM failed to establish acceptable transparent procedures. Every detail of the process must be treated meticulously to ensure that the process followed is not compromised by the new anticipated trickery.
The gravity of the situation facing our dear country has been made clearer with the emerged increasing number of cases of the COVID-19 pandemic. There is a dire need for a legitimate and substantive Government in place to address synergistic strategies while addressing stabilising and developmental policies to the economy. There is a need for greater urgency and the commencement of the recount must be swift and immediate.
The GECOM Chairwoman ought to be aware of her obligations in this respect and she has an opportunity of redeeming her flaying reputation by ensuring the roots of these non-transparent illegalities are severed. For too long this nation has been held at ‘ransom’ by the PNC/APNU/AFC in concert with GECOM agents.
It is observed that political parties have been invited to a meeting on with GECOM on Saturday, May 2, 2020, and one would hope, therefore, that this meeting would be fruitful towards a recount which will conclude this election once and for all in a fair and transparent manner
The Guyanese people thank and once again welcome the Caricom team and international observers to our shores.

Sincerely,
Neil Kumar