“Necessity” for legitimate Govt growing – FITUG

…urges political leaders to accept results as assured

The Federation of Independent Trade Unions of Guyana (FITUG) has called on political leaders to keep their word of accepting the recount results, and allow for the smooth transition of a legitimate Government.

This statement comes shortly after the incumbent APNU/AFC coalition sought to claim that the election results were not credible, even though stakeholders on the other side of the spectrum claimed otherwise.
FITUG maintained that the entire recount exercise was done in transparency, producing credible results. It remained hopeful that this prolonged elections process will be put to rest in the near future.
“The FITUG, at this time, calls on our political leaders to accept the results that will emerge. Indeed, we urge our leaders to engage their supporters to embrace the results. From the reports we have recovered, the recount process has been conducted credibly and professionally, while we must lament the record-breaking time it has taken to reach this point, we nevertheless, we are hopeful that the end is near,” the press statement urged.
As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, it went on to list several challenges which necessitate the need for a legitimate Administration. Again, FITUG called for a peaceful transition into Government for the party that emerges victorious.
“We have the prevailing COVID-19 pandemic, among several other challenges, still in our crosshairs and the necessity of a legitimate Government is growing by the day. Both main political leaders had previously committed to accepting the results and we must trust that they will stay true to their undertakings. Indeed, a peaceful transition of Government is necessary at this time. We desire statesmanship and not brinkmanship and like all democratic societies, the will of the people must be respected.”
Before the coalition backpedalled on its word, caretaker President David Granger had reiterated his commitment to accepting whatever declaration is made by the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM).
“Whatever declaration is made by the Chairman of the Elections Commission would be regarded as legitimate by the coalition Government,” he was quoted as saying during a media briefing.
As the coalition now questions the credibility of the process, Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo said this week that the nation should not be surprised by the APNU/AFC’s effort to discredit the March 2 polls, since it was clear that the coalition has been defeated.
“They fought determinedly for Mingo’s fraudulent declarations to prevail. They never wanted a recount of the ballots. They even went to the court to stop it. They tried at the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) to stop it. In the end, all their efforts failed. They knew that once the ballots were recounted, it would confirm the accuracy of the Statements of Poll (SoPs), which they continue to hide from public scrutiny,” Jagdeo, who is also the party’s General Secretary, noted on his Facebook page.