The Commonwealth Election Observer Group (CEOM) says that it witnessed “blatant” instances of disregard for the rule of law and electoral ethics, during the tabulation of the Region Four votes. Despite these “serious and persistent electoral malpractices”, at no point did the leadership of the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) halt or rectify these actions despite its vested authority to independently ensure credible elections, the CEOM said.
The CEOM withdrew from Guyana three days ago, as the national recount, which was agreed to by the Incumbent President, David Granger, and Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo – and was expected to be overlooked by a Caribbean Community high-level team – has been further stalled following an injunction that was applied by the party, which the incumbent president holds leadership.
That CARICOM delegation has also departed.
The CEOM was constituted and deployed by the Commonwealth Secretary-General, Patricia Scotland, following an invitation from the Government of Guyana.
It is the clear and considered view of the Group that the tabulation processes conducted by the Returning Officer for Region 4, Clairmont Mingo, were not credible, transparent and inclusive.
The series of events observed in the tabulation of Region 4 results between 3-14 March are of grave concern, the group said.
It made the following observations:
• The repeated cessation of the tabulation process for a variety of irregular reasons.
• The Group did not observe any material or substantive impediments inside the tabulation room, which might have prevented the resumption of the tabulation process. It is the Group’s clear view that robust exchanges between political party agents in the room only occurred when the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) repeatedly halted the tabulation process.
• The unlawful declaration made by Mr Mingo on 5 March at about 2pm, despite the tabulation process being halted.
• The unlawful 5 March declaration of Mr Mingo was undertaken under heavy police guard; and his departure from the tabulation centre was guided and guarded by six police officers.
• The continued failure of the Returning Officer, Mr Mingo, to comply with the 11 and 13 March orders and judgements of the Acting Chief Justice. On 13 March, The Chief Justice made it patently clear that actual statements of poll should be shown to entitled parties present. For the avoidance of doubt, the Acting Chief Justice demonstrated herself how this should be done and enquired “what was the difficulty in doing so” during the contempt of court proceedings.
• However, on resuming the tabulation after leaving the Court on 13 March, Mr Mingo refused all requests from those entitled to be present to view the actual statements of poll and did not display the spreadsheet being populated. This compromised the process of ascertaining the credibility of the statements of poll relied on by Mr Mingo to tabulate the results; and, it was impossible for party agents and those entitled to be present to observe that the numbers being called out were being accurately entered on the spreadsheet.
• In some cases, the tabulation totals announced by Mr Mingo on 13 March reflected more voters than were entered on the list of eligible electors for certain polling stations.
The CEOM said that it commends the people of Guyana for peacefully exercising their right to vote for the Government of their choice on 2 March, noting that this is a sacred constitutional and universal right.
In accordance with its Terms of Reference, the Group will submit its full report to the Commonwealth Secretary-General, who will forward it to the Government of Guyana, the Chairperson of GECOM, leaders of political parties, and to all other 53 Commonwealth Governments.
