Unreliable election results will damage Guyana on intl stage – US diplomat

…sanctions include removal of visa privileges, seizure of assets, bank accounts

Any announced result by the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) that does not reflect the will of the Guyanese people will damage the Government’s standing in the international community.

The stark warning is the latest salvo fired against Guyana by the US Government, this time by Assistant Secretary for the US Department of State’s Bureau of Western Hemisphere Affairs, Michael Kozak.
According to Kozak, GECOM “has the responsibility to ensure that all votes are counted.”
The statement by the US Diplomat continues a thread of international threats against the Guyana Government over the current brouhaha surrounding the tabulation of results for the recently held General and Regional Elections.
Kozak had recently intimated that Guyanese deserve a “credible election” and transfer of power that reflects their will.
He had also said that “Democratic nations can’t ignore this blatant disregard for rule of law.”
He warned those who are impeding elections resolution in Guyana that the “world is watching.”
Kozak was adamant that “de facto regimes do not receive the same treatment from us as democratically elected Governments.”
US Secretary of State, Mike Pompeo had also earlier this week cautioned that “individuals who seek to benefit from electoral fraud and form illegitimate Government, [or] regimes will be subject to a variety of serious consequences from the United States.”
Secretary Pompeo was speaking at a media conference on South American affairs, where he told reporters “The United States is closely monitoring the tabulation of votes in Guyana.”
According to the US’ Secretary of State, his country joins with the Organisation of American States (OAS), Commonwealth, the European Union (EU) “and other democratic partners in calling for an accurate count”.
He also commended the Caribbean Community’s (Caricom’s) role “in seeking a swift democratic resolution.”
The threat of individual sanctions by Secretary of State Pompeo was made amidst allegations of disruptive tactics being laid against the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) to delay or interfere with the tabulation of the elections results.
US sanctions on individuals generally commence and are not limited to the removal of visa privileges, seizures of assets in the US and a freeze on bank accounts. These sanctions would extend to the families of these individuals.
Sources indicate that three prominent persons had been identified as being involved in the ploy to subvert the process in GECOM. They are on the list of those to be sanctioned.
Several observer groups in addition to a number of political parties contesting the 2020 Elections have lamented a lack of transparency in the process, with at least one set of results declared being thrown out by the courts and a second declaration being set aside in favour of a recount.
This has since been stalled by the filing of yet another injunction by APNU/AFC candidate, Ulita Moore, in order to not have the recount and for the Commission to make a declaration using the previously thrown out results.
Norway has put the brakes on the release of NOK 393 million (US$36.2 million) climate aid to Guyana in light of the current political situation following the March 2, General and Regional Elections.
Development Today, an independent online journal specialising in political, business and environmental issues, reported that the Climate Ministry in Oslo stated on Friday: “No further decisions will be made on … planning or spending of this money until a legitimate Government is in place,” Development Today reported.
In December 2019, Government had announced that the remaining payments under the Guyana-Norway Agreement to the tune of $9.1 billion (US$50 million) have been released but Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo had tempered expectations pointing out that Guyana will not have access to this money until the General and Regional Elections.
Those elections were held on March 2, 2020, but has been marred with discredited results in Region Four (Demerara-Mahaica).
Meanwhile, the first feel of such sanction has already been felt with Norway’s Government announcement that given the volatile political situation in Guyana, it has put the brakes on the release of NOK 393 million (US$36.2 million) climate aid to this country.
Guyana had signed a historic forest protection accord back in 2009 with Norway, which saw the country receiving payments for sustaining its rainforests to absorb global carbon emissions. A total of US$250 million was to be paid to Guyana over a five-year period.