The Private Sector Commission (PSC) headed by Captain Gerry Gouveia has called a recount of all the ballots cast throughout the 10 electoral districts as an “entire waste of time”, insisting that only a recount of District Four should be undertaken, thereby urging the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) to abandon plans in that regard.
Responding to the PSC’s position is the A Partnership for National Unity + Alliance for Change (APNU+AFC) which said that this simplistic posture of the PSC, not only abrogates the transparency they claim to seek, but has removed the veil of neutrality in which it ought to be cloaked and incontrovertibly identifies that entity as a mere stooge of the Opposition People’s Progressive Party Civic (PPP/C).
Nonetheless, the APNU+AFC maintains it is confident of its victory at the polls and like the rest of the nation, looks forward to a declaration in that regard. In a strongly worded statement released last evening, APNU+AFC said that it views the utterances of the PSC with great dismay given the fact that GECOM has clearly communicated to the country its intention to recount all the ballots from all 10 Electoral Districts in a sequential manner, starting from District One.
In fact, the political party described PSC’s stance as an “absolute hypocrisy.”
The party said, “The Coalition wishes to point out the absolute hypocrisy of this position, given that Guyanese from District 1 – Barima/Waini to District 10 -Upper Demerara/ Berbice would have exercised their franchise and should too be granted the assurance that their votes are accounted for. After all, any government elected in Guyana would be a government of all the people.”
According to the Coalition, it is now obvious to all that the political bias of the PSC does not even allow them to acknowledge that there were discrepancies in other Districts, which led to the APNU+AFC asking for a recount in Districts three and six amongst others which was refused by Returning Officers.
Further to that, it said that the PSC has demonstrated in no small measure, their contempt for and underestimation of the intelligence of the Guyanese people, who understand that a total recount is the only true measure of complete transparency. Against this backdrop, the party noted that its leader, President David Granger initiated the efforts for a total recount of the votes and has maintained the position that GECOM must be allowed to operate without interference, intimidation and in accordance with the laws.
The Coalition added, “…[we] await GECOM’s direction on the conduct of the recount which we hope will include an audit of the contents of each ballot box and which we are certain will take into consideration the current prevailing circumstances in which the country is engulfed, including the COVID-19 pandemic.
