Opposition Leader supports electoral reform

…process intended to prevent non-declaration of SoPs as done by APNU/AFC

By Lakhram Bhagirat

Opposition Leader Joseph Harmon, at his weekly press briefing on Monday, related that he is in support of any effort to have Guyana’s electoral system reformed.

Harmon made the statement after being asked about his thoughts on the Government seeking assistance for electoral reforms from the Canadian Government.
Following a meeting with Canadian High Commissioner Lilian Chaterjee last week, Attorney General Anil Nandlall announced that Government would be seeking the assistance of the Canadian Government to help reform its electoral legislation in an effort to prevent the aftermath of the March 2020 elections from reoccurring.
The Opposition Leader said that any help to reform the electoral laws would be welcomed. In fact, he acknowledged that the Canadian Government has been consistently working with Guyana to reform the electoral system.

“I know that for many years, the Canadians have looked at our electoral system to see how best it can facilitate the early declaration of results. I think it is in that area that they are focused on. I recall in the period 2011-2015, they brought in several machines to see how best it can be utilised to ensure that we can have (the time) from the close of poll until you have a declaration, significantly reduced,” he said.
“I am not sure what else they (the Canadians) are looking at. What will be important is funding for electoral reform and the work which has to be done with respect to any changes which has to be done with the Constitution,” Harmon added.
The Attorney General had said that electoral reform will ensure the tragedy which unfolded after the March 2 General and Regional Elections never reoccurs.
Nandlall, during a Facebook Live session, had related that he has already raised the issue with High Commissioner Chatterjee, for experts to assist Guyana in this process.

“The Government has committed to looking at the Representation of the People Act (RPA) and other pieces of legislations to reform them to cover all the loopholes that have been exploited by the political fraudsters after the elections,” Nandlall noted.
Among the proposed reforms is ensuring that Statements of Poll (SoPs) are published by the respective political parties on a website and made public within hours of receipt. Efforts will also be made to ensure oversight mechanisms are in place to scrutinise the work of the Returning Officers (ROs), thereby guarding against the declaration of false results by rogue officers.
The proposals also include a system where employment procedures and practices are used to ensure the best candidates are selected to work at elections, and to also have fixed qualifications, character references and testimonials for those officials. It is also seeking to ensure that there is a heavy penal system accompanying electoral offences that will deter any official from doing wrong during the elections.

“All these matters are under review by my Ministry and I need as much technical assistance that I can get and Canada has rendered significant support to our electoral process over the past few years. The High Commissioner indicated her Government’s commitment to assist us in that regard,” AG Nandlall said.

Electoral woes
Canada was one of the vocal countries that played a part in thwarting the attempt by the A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC) to rig the March 2, 2020 General and Regional Elections. The country released joint statements with Britain and the United States, calling for the will of the Guyanese people to be respected.
The results of the elections showed that the PPP/C secured 233,336 votes while the APNU/AFC garnered 217,920 votes. The smaller parties – A New and United Guyana – 2313; Change Guyana –1953; Liberty and Justice Party – 2657; People’s Republic Party – 889; The Citizenship Initiative – 680; The New Movement – 244; and the United Republican Party – 360.
However, the declaration of those results came exactly five months after polling day. The delay stemmed from Returning Officer for the Demerara-Mahaica District, Clairmont Mingo using concocted figures to declare his district results. He had declared the total number of valid votes for all lists as 217,425 for which APNU/AFC received 136,057 votes and the PPP/C 77,231 votes. In actuality, the results of the National Recount found that there was a total of 202,077 ballots cast in Region Four, with 116,941 for APNU/AFC and 80,920 for PPP/C.
Mingo’s bloated figures would have placed the APNU/AFC back in the seat of power, ultimately denying the will of the Guyanese people.
Since the declaration of results, a number of Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) officials have been hauled before the courts to answer charges of electoral fraud.
Mingo has also been charged with five counts of fraud charges, one of which is in association with PNCR Chairwoman, Volda Lawrence. Lawrence was later slapped with two additional charges of electoral fraud.
Mingo, during his first court appearance, was placed on $600,000 bail on four charges of Misconduct in Public Office. Additionally, GECOM staffers Enrique Livan and Sheffern February were also slapped with charges of electoral fraud.
Livan was previously questioned by Police on the evening of March 4, 2020, when the tabulation of votes for District Four at the Office of the Returning Officer was obstructed. Party agents and other observers became suspicious when Livan, after complaining of feeling tired and wanting to conclude the tabulation process, left the room with a flash drive and computer – both of which were being used during the tabulation process.
On the other hand, February was also slapped with two charges of conspiracy to commit fraud. She was not allowed to plead to the charge and was granted $150,000 bail on each charge, totalling $300,000.
However, Chief Elections Officer Keith Lowenfield made his first court appearance at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts on July 24 to answer three private criminal charges regarding conspiracy to commit fraud, misconduct in public office and breach of trust.
The charges were initially filed by citizens, Josh Kanhai and Desmond Morian, accusing Lowenfield of three counts of fraud. Lowenfield is also under Police investigation.
The Guyana Police Force had said it launched a probe into criminal conduct by Lowenfield and others in relation to the events of the March 2 elections. He is accused of attempting to undermine the will of the people by repeatedly refusing to submit the verified recount results to the GECOM Chair for a declaration. Legal advice was obtained from the DPP and the Force was advised to launch a comprehensive investigation into these allegations in accordance with its mandate.
On October 10, Deputy Chief Elections Officer (DCEO) Roxanne Myers made her first appearance at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts in relation to charges of misconduct in public office filed against her. She was slapped with two counts of misconduct in public office. Myers was not required to plead to the indictable charge, which stated that she wilfully misconducted herself in declaring fraudulent results from the March 2 General and Regional Elections, between the period of March 4 and 14, 2020.
She was placed on $150,000 for each charge, amounting to $300,000.