The National Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Task Force (NCTF) is yet to submit its report on the assessment of the Arthur Chung Conference Centre (ACCC) to the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM), as the elections body explores the possibility of establishing additional workstations to accelerate the recount of the votes cast in the March 2 General and Regional Elections. This delay does not bode well of the completion of the process, Opposition agent, Sasenarine Singh says.
The Chartered Accountant said that the NCTF is a “humbug” towards the successful completion of the process.
“Their actions so far have been nothing but anti-national, anti-patriotic and anti-Guyanese…They are becoming a clear and present danger to us achieving success,” he told media operatives outside of the ACCC this morning.
Singh issued a call to Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo, who heads the NCTF, to ensure that such assistance is given to the Commission, given that the allotted time for the conclusion of the process may likely elapse without the recount being completed.
According to the Recount Operationalisation Order, the recount will take a period of 25 days. However, the Commission will meet one week after the commencement of the process to review that duration to determine if additional time is needed.
Last week, the Commission met and decided that it should look at establishing additional workstations to supplement the existing 10 units.
The NCTF was contacted and asked to meet with GECOM the following day. The team arrived two days later and conducted a walkthrough with GECOM officials, when six locations were identified as possible sites for the housing of workstations.
Given that the NCTF is tasked with implementing procedures and addressing issues relative to COVID-19, the body was expected to provide a report the following day to guide the Commission.
Three days later, and that report is yet to be submitted.
The NCTF is headed by, and comprised of government ministers and appointees, who are also candidates of the APNU+AFC party, which is also a contestant in these elections.
Health Minister, Volda Lawrence has made it clear that the safety of those persons at the recount venue is paramount and therefore, any decision taken by the body will be predicated on conventions that ensure social and physical distancing.
