United States Ambassador to Guyana, Sarah-Ann Lynch, has denounced recent attacks on Chairperson of the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM), retired Justice Claudette Singh, and has called for her to be allowed to bring an end to the protracted electoral process.
US Ambassador Sarah-Ann Lynch
During a virtual press conference on Thursday, Ambassador Lynch said, “I am shocked and appalled at the dangerous statements and actions that I have seen directed at the Chairwoman.”
As the post-elections events unfolded, there have been increased attacks – mostly via social media – against the GECOM Chair.
In fact, back in April, Justice Singh had reported a death threat on her life to the Guyana Police Force. She subsequently told reporters, “They have a bounty on my head from Friday [April, 17, 2020] night.”
More recently, however, the attacks have escalated, and the Police on Tuesday night arrested an APNU/AFC activist from Linden, Region 10 (Upper Demerara-Berbice) who had threatened to kill the GECOM Chair in a Facebook post on Monday.
The post, which was made under a fake profile and traced back to the person, says, “IF YOU CLAUDETTE SINGH THINK YOU WILL DECLARE FRAUDULENT VOTES SO THAT THE PPP WILL WIN, WELL THINK AGAIN BCUZ YOU AND EVERYBODY IN UR HOUSE WILL F**** DEAD. #DEATHUPONYOU”.
Meanwhile, even more disturbing is a video on social media showing persons conducting a makeshift funeral with a doll which they claim represents the GECOM Chair.
GECOM Chair, Retired Justice Claudette Singh
To this end, the US Ambassador on Thursday called for these acts and attacks against Justice Singh to be condemned.
“Chairwoman Singh is a person of the utmost integrity, and a distinguished jurist who has given decades of her life in service to her country. I hope that all Guyanese will speak out on her behalf and allow her to continue her work and bring this electoral process to closure,” the US diplomat stated.
The GECOM Chair on Wednesday give an undertaking to the High Court to pause all engagements at the level of the seven-member Elections Commission pending the outcome of the legal proceedings filed by APNU/AFC supporter Misegna Jones, who is seeking to block the declaration of the March 2 elections based on the National Recount results.
This comes after Justice Singh was forced to discard several reports submitted by Chief Elections Officer Keith Lowenfield, after he continuously failed to adhere to her directions to use the figures from the recount exercise to compile his report.
According to the US Ambassador during Thursday’s virtual press conference, the events unfolding in Guyana since the 2020 elections, held more than four months ago, are “highly disappointing”. Nevertheless, she noted that the US continues to hope that the will of Guyanese people is respected, and further pledged her country’s support to ensure this.
Only on Wednesday, the US announced visa restrictions for individuals and their immediate family members responsible for, or complicit in, the undermining of democracy in Guyana.
While Ambassador Lynch says that no details regarding those who were sanctioned can be disclosed, she noted that those affected by the restrictions will be informed by the Consular Affairs Section. (G8)
Nevertheless, she noted that the US continues to hope that the will of Guyanese people is respected, and further pledged her country’s support to ensure this.
