PSC tells Granger to concede, tell supporters “the truth”

APNU/AFC-created political crisis

…as GMSA calls for transition to new Govt

The Guyana Manufacturing and Services Association (GMSA) on Wednesday called for the David Granger-led administration to allow the transition to a new Government reflective of the will of the Guyanese people.

The GMSA pointed out that it has been more than four months since the March 2, 2020 General and Regional Elections and a democratically-elected Government was still not in place.
“Despite undertakings and commitments to respect the results of the recount process conducted by GECOM and overseen by Caricom and other observers, attempts continue to thwart the declaration of the winner of the March 2020 elections,” the GMSA said.
The political impasse, the absence of a functional Government, the COVID-19 pandemic and the lack of a coherent and comprehensive response, the GMSA said, have made it difficult for businesses to operate.
“As a result, many have closed, resulting in losses of jobs and income for Guyanese. A continuation of this current situation will have disastrous consequences on the business community and the economy.”

Concede
Meanwhile, the Private Sector Commission (PSC), which served as an accredited observer for the elections, says it has no hesitation in demanding that the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) proceed to make a declaration using the recount results of the General and Regional Elections as soon as is practical and expect “David Granger to tell his supporters the truth and to concede”.

“We also would like to extend deep appreciation to Caricom, the [Organisation of American States] OAS, the European Union and the Commonwealth, the Carter Center and to the ABCE countries that join us in this struggle to preserve and protect democracy and the rule of law in Guyana.”
The PSC said that while recognising minor administrative difficulties, it found the process of the recount to have been efficiently conducted and authentic.
“The Private Sector Commission noted, as did the Caricom Report, the frequently aggressive, and, at times, obnoxious, if not bizarre, behaviour by agents representing APNU/AFC at the various work stations, but, who, nevertheless, were unable to document any material complaints to question the process,” it said in a statement on Wednesday.

It added that it was pleased to endorse, without reservation, the observation of the Caricom scrutineers, that “the objections raised by the APNU/AFC” were not “materially relevant to the recount of the ballot” and that there was “no evidence as to who were the ultimate beneficiaries of the alleged ‘ghost voting’ and voter impersonation”.
Additionally, the GMSA stated that it joined the PSC and other Private Sector organisations, civil society, other local organisations and groups and the international community in “calling for a swift conclusion to this political impasse, the declaration of the results based on the Recount Process, and the transition to a new Government reflective of the will of the Guyanese people.”