Dear Editor,
I was stunned by a letter that appeared in the local press of 31 October 2024; it had some barefaced allegations, was mired in crass racism, and was signed by the three Commissioners handling the “business” of the PNC.
Actually, I’m not sure if the PNC is APNU or any of the names it has changed in its imagined attempt at credibility-reimaging, or in its attempt to improve its consistently faltering support. Then, again, isn’t one of those Commissioners the representative of a virtually nonexistent entity?
The three — someone aptly described them as “three blind mice” in the comments after their letter — defied local, regional and international findings, opinions and evidence for FIVE gruelling and embarrassing (to Guyanese) MONTHS in their parties’ attempts to reverse the will of the people. Guyanese would NEVER forget the humiliation they had to endure, until, like in 1992, they had no option but to release their stranglehold on the Guyanese people, and were forced to hand over the Government, but NOT THEIR SOPs (up to more than four years after).
But enough about 2020; the “three blind mice” would NEVER see the light of day on that sordid episode. Let’s go back to 2015, which THEY mentioned. I remember that, before the final results were announced, the PPP objected to the results GECOM reported on a number of ballot boxes. I remember the then GECOM Chairperson saying (and it was reported publicly) that he would consider recounting, at the PPP’s request, 22 disputed ballot boxes. When this was not forthcoming, the number was reduced; and finally, the PPP said it would ask for ONLY FIVE boxes to be recounted, and if it was found that GECOM’s numbers were correct, it would accept the results; but if the recount showed a difference, then the other “disputed” boxes should be recounted. The recount of even ONE box was NEVER done.
Also glaringly shameful was that the PPP allegedly lost by one vote in Region Eight, and even there, a recount was not allowed. Nowhere in the world would this have occurred. What a disgrace it was!
Do these three remember that? Or do they also now have defective memories? Do they also have failed memories of the mysterious disappearance of responsible GECOM officials, who could not be located to conduct recounts requested by the PPP for certain disputed ballot boxes in Region Four?
And what about the Chairman at that time? Can Guyanese people have the benefit of your memory and comments, PLEASE?
The reason I’m raising this again is because I know an election petition is before the courts, and even if it’s heard and determined TOMORROW, it would have absolutely no effect on the results of that election; its results would be only for academic and historical purposes.
I understand that the ballots for that election are locked away in containers. Those ballot boxes can be used again (if they have not rotted by now), and the containers can be returned (are we paying rental for these?) or reused, thereby saving millions of dollars, I’m sure.
My suggestions are:
That GECOM agrees to recount ALL the ballot boxes for the 2015 elections. Should this not be considered favourably and in the interest of compromise, then the 22 ballot boxes identified by the PPP as having incorrect numbers should be recounted.
This would prove — in my opinion, conclusively — who really won the 2015 Elections. The elections petition can then be withdrawn by the PPP; we learn from the past, move on as a nation, and continue to progress.
Regards,
Harry N Nawbatt
