The Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) will be overstepping its constitutional boundary if it investigates allegations levelled by the A Partnership for National Unity + Alliance for Change (APNU+AFC) that the names of deceased persons and of those allegedly out of the jurisdiction on March 2, were listed as voted in the Elections. This is according to Opposition Member, Anil Nandlall.
His utterance was prompted by an article published in the Guyana Chronicle today, which revealed that the APNU+AFC coalition was invited by the GECOM Chairperson Justice (retired) Claudette Singh to submit a list of the names of these persons.
The article further stated that “the coalition has also promised to furnish the electoral body with more evidence of same and also of persons who are deceased and listed as voted,”.
But Nandlall opined that the Chairperson inviting evidence is only “lending credence” to these claims but is “extending the scope of the exercise”.
The lawyer, during an interview with the media moments ago outside the Arthur Chung Conference Centre (ACCC), where the recount of the votes cast in the elections are being recounted, maintained that the process has to do with recount only. This, he said, is stated clearly in the perambulatory part of the order.
There is no provision that supports allegation of this nature, nor the necessary actions to be taken in this regard, Nandlall noted.
He warned that if GECOM proceeds along this path, it will be going beyond its jurisdiction to ascertain the veracity of these claims.
“It is wrong,” Nandlall stressed, while adding that the Constitution is clear about how such matters should be dealt with; in this case, the High Court has the power to hear, prove or disprove allegations.
Nandlall said that GECOM is “moving in a very dangerous direction”, and that the PPP/C intends to write Justice Singh to chronicle and register the party’s concerns.
“The PPP has nothing to hide, but we cannot allow this process to be bastardised to be used in such a manner…The whole process will erupt in chaos and confusion,” the former Attorney-General lamented.
With regards to today’s recount, he reported that some 85 boxes were completed, which takes the overall number of boxes completed to 1,051.
Commenting on the process, Nandlall said that the party is disappointed that no movement has been seen towards the establishment of additional stations to accelerate the process.
