More serious consequences if APNU/AFC insists on hanging on to power – Jagdeo warns

…says PPP will fiercely resist if coalition refuses to leave office

Opposition Leader and People’s Progressive Party (PPP) General Secretary Bharrat Jagdeo has warned of more serious consequences coming Guyana’s way from the international community if the caretaker A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance for Change (APNU/AFC) insists on hanging on to power and refuses to demit office.

On Wednesday, the caretaker coalition declared that it would not be accepting any declaration based on the figures from the national recount.
This, according to Jagdeo in a subsequent statement, is not only clear defiance of the decisions by the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM); the Chief Justice (ag), Roxane George and the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) as well as mounting calls by the international community but also the previous commitments by President David Granger to accept whatever declaration is made by GECOM.
The Head of State had said back in May, during the recount exercise, and again in June after the recount, that he would “accept” and “abide” by GECOM’s declaration. But last, he said that he would “abide by any declaration that the Chairman [of GECOM] makes in keeping with the laws of Guyana”.
The seven-member GECOM has decided to use the certified figures emanating from the 33-day recount process to declare the March 2 elections results. However, this was challenged by coalition supporter Misenga Jones, but the High Court dismissed the application and ruled that the recount results must be used to make a final declaration – in keeping with the CCJ’s July 8th ruling. But the High Court decision is now being appealed by the APNU/AFC agent.

Nevertheless, Jagdeo noted in the missive on Thursday that this position of the coalition was not surprising given the history of the People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR) – the largest party in the APNU faction – not accepting any electoral loss since 1992.
“What we have to do now is to work to ensure that we have a declaration that is reflective of the will of the people and only one that is derived from the figures generated by the national recount can produce such an outcome…,” he said in the missive.
Moreover, the Opposition Leader further posited that the Granger-led regime was living in a fool’s world if they believe the APNU/AFC could continue to hang on to power.
“If the international community was prepared to condemn and levy sanctions against people who are trying to undermine democracy, even before the declaration, just imagine the consequences the riggers will face if they refuse to leave office after the declaration – essentially staging a coup d’état. Needless to say, such a move will be met by fierce resistance by the PPP and other forces fighting for democracy,” the General Secretary contended.
To this end, Jagdeo urged Guyanese not to be too concerned about whether the coalition would accept the declaration or not, assuring that this “bridge will be crossed” when the time comes.
He reminded of the remarks made by Organisation of American States (OAS) Secretary General Luis Almagro on Tuesday at the special Permanent Council meeting, where he put the choice to Guyana of “Democracy or Abyss?”.
This, Jagdeo said, will determine the consequences for Granger and the APNU/AFC.
Already, the United States has imposed visa restrictions against several Government and electoral officials, and their immediate family members, who were found to be undermining Guyana’s democracy.
“The Granger Government must respect the results of democratic elections and step aside,” US Secretary of State, Mike Pompeo, asserted.
He had noted in a subsequent statement that the visa sanctions sent a clear message of the consequences of subverting democracy and the rule of law, which pose a danger to not just the US but also hemispheric partners.
During an engagement with the media the following day, US Ambassador Sarah-Ann Lynch was asked what danger the Secretary of State was referring to. She explained that the US has partnered with Guyana for years in several critical areas, including security, governance and prosperity. These, she noted, are in danger if Guyana moves away from being a democratic nation.
“So, we look further to working with Guyana in the future [as] a secure, stable, prosperous country, as well as region. So, there are implicit dangers in all of those areas that we would like to avoid and we believe that we can do that best by working together as we have in the past…,” the US envoy had stated.
Meanwhile, the United Kingdom had also announced last week that it has already started the process of putting “consequences in place” against individuals in Guyana, while Canada is likely to follow suit as well.