With verified and credible results still to be declared for the March 02 elections, Guyana continues to slide further into the depths of illegitimate and undemocratic rule. The genesis of the current state of affairs lies with President David Granger and Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM). Through its Chief Elections Officer (CEO), the first public step was taken to try and declare unverified results. The Returning Officer, Clairmont Mingo’s now infamous spreadsheet is synonymous with electoral rigging.
From there, it went downhill with the Returning Officer (RO) of Region 4, twice declaring unverified and even different results with the direct intent of giving victory to the APNU/AFC. On both occasions, the international community and local stakeholders deemed his actions as lacking transparency and the results not credible.
That said, it seems inconceivable why the simple process of verification and accurate tabulation of votes cast for Region 4, is yet to be done. More baffling, is the fact that President David Granger, having claimed he does not want to be sworn in with results that lack credibility and therefore sought CARICOM’s intervention to supervise a recount, is now lamenting the departure of the Regional body’s high-level team
It’s baffling in the context that it was an APNU/AFC affiliate who sought and was successful in getting an injunction to stop the very recount Mr. Granger asked CARICOM’s assistance for. It’s a classic example of giving with one hand and taking with the other only this time the world saw the sleight of hands.
Despite whatever may be happening in the coalition, Mr. Granger, if he is serious about transparency, could have stopped the filing of the injunction to allow CARICOM to commence the recount. His actions therefore raise suspicions as to whether he genuinely wants to have this imposed impasse to be resolved in a transparent manner so that Guyana and Guyanese can move on.
His consistency in defying the constitution does not offer hope of genuineness. Surely, CARICOM and its Chair must be embarrassed by his action not withstanding that resources and people’s time were wasted and the hopes of Guyanese for a swift and transparent resolution, evaporated before their eyes.
Events prior and after March 02, leave no doubt that the APNU/AFC coalition is bent at holding on to power at any cost even if it means compromising the country’s image and the wellbeing of its citizens. In the said context, there seems no doubt of a sinister collaboration with some compromised officials at GECOM and APNU/AFC high-ranking officials. How else can the fraudulent results be explained?
The answer lies the proverbial rigging that characterizes the People’s National Congress (PNC) which Mr. Granger leads and which, in reality, is the coalition. T
Likewise, the answer to the tired question of, if APNU/AFC are so confident that it won, why resist every attempt to have a recount of the Region 4 ballots, would more than likely point to rigging. It seems Mr. Granger may have scuttled his own attempt to save face given APNU/AFC’s injunction to stop the recount.
Historically, the PNC rigged its way throughout its tenure of almost three decades. Here again, in these modern times, it seems impossible for it to relieve itself of such propensity. The biggest irony is that Mr. Granger campaigned on the platform of honesty and decency and the coalition’s campaign thrust was centered around him.
Clearly, what the RO for Region 4 did in the presence of all, could never be decent or honest as are the results he twice declared. Given the suspected collaboration between some GECOM staff and the APNU/AFC, the RO’s forthright and deliberate actions in question, cannot be in isolation. Why would he, after making his second declaration, deny all the Parties their constitutional right for a recount of Region 4?
Giving him the benefit of knowing right from wrong, he must have been aware that his actions were undemocratic and lacked transparency. A transparent recount would therefore unravel whatever skullduggery might have taken place; hence the attempts to shut it down. That’s makes it easy to understand the APNU/AFC’s injunction even when CARICOM was present to supervise the recount.
None can deny that something stinks and the recent attempts to remove Party officials and Observers from the compound that houses the containers with the ballot boxes, offer an insight to the source of the stench.
As it is, Guyanese are resisting all attempts by the APNU/AFC and their collaborators to trample on democracy. The unison of the Parties and the steadfastness of the international community to not accept unverified results and a process that lacks transparency, is vital to this new struggle. The efforts of all stakeholders, is also crucial for it must be made clear to Mr. Granger and his coalition that rigging has no place in our society.
Despite their sustained efforts through the ongoing rig-a-thon, the international community has already sent strong signals of intent if the RO’ results are used to swear in a government. In the best interest of Guyana and Guyanese, at least Mr. Granger can do the decent thing and listen and allow for honest results. After all, that’s his campaign’s theme.
