Results must be declared from recount figures – UK Foreign Secretary

United Kingdom Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab has lamented that it has been over four months since the people of Guyana went to the polls and the results of the March 2 elections are still pending.

In a tweet on Thursday, Foreign Secretary Raab echoed mounting calls for the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) to declare the elections results on the basis of the Caribbean Community- scrutinised recount process.
“Guyana deserves an election result that reflects the will of its people,” the UK official stated.
The 33-day recount exercise showed that the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) was victorious, having secured 233,336 votes, while the caretaker APNU/AFC Coalition obtained 217,920 votes – a difference of some 15,416 votes.
However, despite being directed on several occasions to submit his final elections report using the results from the recount, Chief Elections Officer Keith Lowenfield has continuously failed to adhere to these instructions, and has presented several reports compiled with fraudulent figures.
A few weeks ago, the UK Government had expressed deep concerns about the events following the March 2 elections in Guyana, and had called on caretaker President David Granger “to preserve the principle of free, fair and credible elections.”
Meanwhile, back in March, Foreign Secretary Raab had warned of “serious consequences” if a government is sworn based on non-credible results.
“Any government sworn in on the basis of non-credible results will face strong international condemnation. If the situation continues to deteriorate, this international response will include a range of serious consequences for those concerned,” Raab had cautioned.
Only on Wednesday, the United States (US) announced visa restrictions for persons and their immediate family members who are responsible for or, complicit in, undermining Guyana’s democracy.
That country’s Secretary of State, Mike Pompeo, had said in a subsequent tweet that the visa restrictions imposed on persons involved in electoral fraud sends a clear message in respect to the consequences of subverting democracy and the rule of law.
“The United States will not stand by and do nothing as the will of the Guyanese people is violated,” Pompeo tweeted.
Meanwhile, it has since been indicated that the UK has also begun discussions on imposing sanctions on Government and elections officials who are undermining Guyana’s democracy.
A reliable source close to the British Government confirmed that “discussions” have commenced, although no definitive decision has been made as yet in this regard. (G-8)